The Milton Keynes-based outfit opted to pursue a different direction in an attempt to stay ahead of the opposition, and early lap times in Bahrain testing have indicated that tactic has yielded a significant step forward - Verstappen topping the leaderboard on the opening day.
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Verstappen revealed he was first shown what the team was planning for its 2024 car at the end of last year, but he said “I don't ask a lot of questions about” the concept, instead trusting his team's design department.
Asked by Autosport if he thought changing from such a successful concept was the right strategy, he said: “Well, at the time I wasn't even too concerned with that to be honest, I saw the drawings and thought, 'So, that looks nice', but honestly I was thinking more about the upcoming holidays at the time!
“In the end, it doesn't matter what the car looks like either. But what I do like a lot about the team is that they haven't been conservative, and that they have pushed the limits again by changing the concept.”
Verstappen said he had no concerns about the team appearing to follow a path that didn’t work for Mercedes with the W13 and W14.
Source: Autosport