Horner Issues Vettel - Verstappen Dominance Comparison

Friday, 20 October 2023 at 15:30

Updated at Wednesday, 25 October 2023 at 21:40

Red Bull Racing F1 team principal Christian Horner compared current driver Max Verstappen to the four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel.

Sebastian Vettel, who retired from Formula One after the end of the previous season (2022), spent six years of his career at Red Bull Racing working alongside current team principal Christian Horner.

The German driver was an essential part of Red Bull's most successful era to date when he won four consecutive World Championships with the team.

In 2022, Red Bull won its third consecutive driver's title with Max Verstappen and seems to have a great chance of competing for the world title again next season.

Great performances of Max Verstappen have been a crucial part of the success and with the third consecutive title, many people are starting to draw lines between the Dutchman and all-time greats of the sport. Horner told Standard Sport:

"We’ve worked with some greats. Seb [Vettel] was an outstanding talent with the four world titles in a row he managed to achieve. It’s a similar level of dominance with what Max is doing."

Verstappen won ten consecutive races this season, breaking a record for the most consecutive race wins previously held by Sebastian Vettel (9). Horner elaborated:

Read also

F1 Drivers React To 'Ridiculous' New Maximum Fine Of 1,000,000 Euros

"He’s a phenomenal talent to work with. With everything he’s achieving, Max is absolutely matching and exceeding what Sebastian was able to achieve."

As Jacques Villeneuve previously said, Verstappen was made strong by his father, who was very tough on him ever since he was a child. The team principal describes him as a "racing machine."

"He’s just a racing machine. He’s immensely talented, but it’s not just about the natural talent, but also the mental strength that he has."

The Flying Dutchman proved his immense talent during multiple moments this season starting the race from different positions in various conditions, but in the end, he stood on the podium in every single race besides the Singapore Grand Prix.

"To deliver at high-pressure moments, in and out laps, changing conditions, racecraft, decisive moments when they matter, and being able to read the race. He’s always one step ahead and without [making] mistakes."