He has already surpassed Formula 1 icons Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, and the cake is not over yet: Max Verstappen could overtake four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel for the number of GP victories in Abu Dhabi.
The victory in Las Vegas was Verstappen’s 53rd victory. And there is no reason to doubt his chances at the Yas Marina circuit.
“54. A win would be great. An incredible number in an incredible season,” Verstappen replied when asked in Abu Dhabi. If Vettel manages to pass, he will only have to endure Lewis Hamilton (103) and Michael Schumacher (91).
Verstappen’s dominance this season is so unprecedented that it’s noticeably difficult for him to pick three highlights. “The race in Miami is an important victory after a difficult Saturday. The wet racing in front of the home crowd at Zandvoort was great. “On the heels of a difficult weekend in Singapore, Suzuka, Japan, was also a highlight.”
gold background
“End the season in style and then enjoy a nice holiday and take a deep breath.” That’s Verstappen’s mission in Abu Dhabi. “This goes for the whole team. “Everyone has worked hard and we will slow down after this weekend.”
Yas Marina is worth its weight in gold for Verstappen. “Things happened here that I will never forget,” he says, looking solemnly at his first World Cup title in 2021, his blood-curdling tribute to Hamilton and his subsequent dismissal. “This weekend was a dream come true and this was my most emotional title. But the third one is the best.”
Verstappen won his third world title in Qatar in October. If you think this will satisfy your hunger, you are wrong. The 26-year-old Dutchman went on to win in Texas, Mexico, Brazil and Las Vegas, including two sprint races. Add to this the fact that Verstappen has won in Abu Dhabi three years in a row and it is clear who the overwhelming favorite is for the final Grand Prix of 2023.
One hundred days before the first race of 2024, Verstappen, like Vettel, is somewhat focused on the season in which he wants to win his fourth consecutive championship for Red Bull Racing. “I hope our winning streak continues for a long time. “It will end one day, but I hope it won’t be too soon.”
Winning is never boring
His message is clear: Winning is never boring. For Verstappen, it’s almost an addiction. Do you want to sleep and sit back? He doesn’t do that. “It’s not hard for me to stay motivated. I love racing and winning is the best thing ever. “It becomes much more difficult when you know that you have no chance and you are struggling in midfield.”
Rivals Ferrari and Mercedes fear three months of winter will not be enough to catch up with Red Bull Racing. Verstappen doesn’t give them much hope either. According to him, the RB20 will be even better than the RB19, which won only one Grand Prix this year.
“We know the weaknesses of our car. Yes they are really there. Look at Singapore. We will further strengthen our strengths. “We will correct our shortcomings.”
Where is the RB19’s Achilles heel? Of course this is top secret and remains so, but in general it comes down to this: “Our car’s strength is not on street circuits. Slow stretches, bumps and curbs. “These are the areas we need to work on.”
But first Verstappen will look for his 54th GP victory. And the 19th of the season. Incredible numbers. All of his rivals, including teammate Sergio Pérez, were underestimated. Perhaps the biggest rival in Abu Dhabi isn’t even a driver.
severe jet lag
Verstappen admits jet lag really hit after the night race in Las Vegas. “Sometimes it’s hard to keep track of what time zone you’re in. We’ve already flown a lot after the summer. Luckily, the action on the podium here happens a little later in the day.”
Verstappen does not like the transition from Nevada to Abu Dhabi. “It’s weird flying to the other side of the world at the end of the season. It’s not great. It’s not sustainable either. In terms of emissions, but also for the body. This will happen again next season. “We stuck to it, but it needs to be better possible in the future.”
Source: NOS
I’m George Gonzalez, a professional journalist and author at The Nation View. With more than 5 years of experience in the field, I specialize in covering sports news for various print media outlets. My passion for writing has enabled me to craft stories that capture the attention of readers all over the world.
