Beginning from a sixth-place position at Spa-Francorchamps, Max Verstappen overtook his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez during the 17th lap and triumphantly won the race. He finished 22 seconds ahead of Perez, while Charles Leclerc, Red Bull’s closest competitor, trailed by 32 seconds.
In the 2023 season, Red Bull has completely overshadowed its rivals, with its RB19 vehicle claiming victory in every one of the 12 races thus far. Horner, reflecting on Verstappen’s supremacy over Perez and his ease in securing his eighth straight race win, believes that what is being witnessed in F1 with Max is a rare and distinctive phenomenon.
Horner expressed his thoughts, stating, “The level of dominance over others at this time is extraordinary. In general, it’s been remarkable. What’s occurring with Max right now is something we see only once in a generation.”
When questioned about what Verstappen, who is on the path to his third consecutive drivers’ world championship, is able to do with the Red Bull that Perez can’t, Horner’s response was insightful: “Like all the legendary drivers, he possesses an additional capability. At present, what’s observable in him is his proficiency in understanding the tires, reading a race, and maximizing every aspect of it. It’s thrilling to watch. I believe he’s at the peak of his performance right now.”
Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen
Photo credit: Erik Junius
Red Bull’s advisor Helmut Marko was also asked by F1 Flow.com if Verstappen’s form continues to astonish him, to which the Austrian responded, “If you’re eight-tenths ahead in qualifying, then it’s clear that there’s more potential and room for improvement. However, it also relates to how shrewd and astute his driving has become lately. His ability to strategize and understand races is amazing, and that’s reflected in his conversations with his race engineer as well.”
“It’s extraordinary what he’s demonstrating at this time, but the entire team deserves credit. There’s hardly any pitstop taking longer than 2.5 seconds, the strategy is on point, and there haven’t been any technical issues thus far, so the whole team is performing phenomenally.”
As Verstappen goes into F1’s summer break leading with 314 points versus Perez’s 189, he is mathematically positioned to secure his third world title as soon as the Japanese Grand Prix in September, repeating his success from 2022.
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Additional insight provided by Ronald Vording.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about fokus keyword: Max Verstappen
What is Christian Horner’s view on Max Verstappen’s performance in the 2023 F1 season?
Horner believes Verstappen’s dominance in the 2023 F1 season is something unique and once-in-a-generation. He praises Verstappen’s understanding of the race, tires, and his ability to extract the maximum performance.
How has Red Bull’s performance been in the 2023 F1 season?
Red Bull has been incredibly successful in the 2023 season, with its RB19 car winning all 12 races so far. The whole team, including pitstop and strategy, is performing phenomenally.
What makes Verstappen’s driving stand out according to Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s advisor?
Marko highlights Verstappen’s intelligence and clever driving, emphasizing his ability to think about overtaking moves and read races exceptionally well. Marko also mentions that Verstappen is ahead by eight-tenths in qualifying, showing his potential and room for improvement.
When can Verstappen mathematically win his third world title?
Verstappen could mathematically win his third world title as early as the Japanese Grand Prix in September, mirroring his success from 2022.
What is the difference in points between Verstappen and his teammate Sergio Perez as they head into the summer break?
As they head into F1’s summer break, Verstappen leads with 314 points, compared to Perez’s 189 points.
More about fokus keyword: Max Verstappen
- Red Bull Racing Official Website
- F1 Official Standings and News
- Max Verstappen’s Career and Statistics
- Overview of the 2023 F1 Season
- Interview with Christian Horner on Verstappen
5 comments
This article really puts it into perspective, max is truly once in a generation. cant wait for the Japanese Grand Prix! go Red Bull!
I mean, it’s good and all but, doesn’t this kind of dominance make the sport less interesting? where’s the competition…
Seriously, what’s happening to the other teams? Red Bull’s just taking it to a whole new level. Verstappen’s dominance is unmatchable!
Wow, verstappen’s really nailing it this season. Horner must be thrilled, RB19’s unbeatable, 3rd title here we come!
the teamwork, strategy, and execution of Red bull is just as impressive as Verstappens driving. an incredible season so far!