F1 news: Max Verstappen and Pierre Gasly ‘CIVIL WAR’ - pundit makes explosive prediction

That’s according to motorsport pundit Will Buxton who reckons fireworks between Pierre Gasly and Max Verstappen might be on the cards.

Gasly, 22, will partner the Dutchman this term following a stint racing in the Japanese Super Formula Championship.

The French ace developed a reputation in the Far East for getting his own way.

He forged close links with Honda bigwigs in a bid to influence the car’s engineering.

And Buxton says that if Gasly adopts the same strategy this year it’ll put him on a collision course with his team-mate.

“If Verstappen is Red Bull’s golden boy, and Gasly plays his Honda relationship right, might we see an intense civil war begin to brew at Red Bull?” he wrote on Formula 1’s official website. “Frankly, I think we could.

“Both racers are megastars. Both have strong relationships with equally crucial yet completely separate and opposite parts of their racing team.

“Both want it all. And they want it yesterday.

“There’ll be fireworks, you mark my words. It just depends how big the explosions become.”

Red Bull have swapped out Renault engines for Honda this year.

And former Red Bull driver Mark Webber is confident the Japanese manufacturer will deliver the goods for Verstappen and Gasly.

"First of all, the decision was farsighted to switch from Renault to Honda," Webber told Dutch magazine Speedweek.

"Red Bull needed a change. You get new energy from that.

"The biggest challenge for Honda will be to get all the performance out over the required life of the engine.

"I have no doubt that Honda will catch up in qualifying because I do not doubt them, but reliability in the race at the highest level must first be achieved. That needs time."

Verstappen - who is still only 21-years-old - has two seasons to become the youngest ever F1 title winner.

The current record is held by Ferrari superstar Sebastian Vettel.

Racing expert Tony Jardine says Verstappen’s opportunity to make history is in the hands of Red Bull’s new engine suppliers.

"Only if Honda really done their work and they’ve got an engine that will give him the power he needs and the reliability he needs," Jardine exclusively told Express Sport, when asked if Verstappen can become the youngest ever F1 champion.

"Now Honda have improved this year. We’ve all been watching Toro Rosso very, very carefully.

"I think from Red Bull’s perspective it’s fantastic because they’re getting a works engine.

"Before they were just a customer for Renault and obviously they had massive issues, which is ironic because that’s where Ricciardo’s going.

"But at the same time I think it’s all just down to Honda. Aerodynamically and therefore handling wise, the Red Bull has been the car again to watch this year, it just lacked the grunt.

"So [Verstappen] can do it if Honda step up to the plate."