Palmowski says Verstappen is there to help when she has questions

Alisha Palmowski describes Max Verstappen as open and approachable, saying he is there for her when she has a question or doubt. She won this season’s F1 Academy title with Campos Racing; through the Red Bull Junior Programme, she can watch Verstappen at work in the Red Bull Racing garage during Grand Prix weekends.

Palmowski says observing him has taught her to step back and watch how he works with his engineers and gives feedback. She can wear a headset during qualifying or a Grand Prix, she says, and listen to what he considers important—and what he does not.

She admires Verstappen’s mindset, aggression and refusal to give up, but stresses that she is not claiming to be on his level. She hopes to get closer to him one day.