Christian Horner is one of the people who worked closely with
Max Verstappen in 2023, and he discussed what he believes are the Dutchman's "strongest assets."
Red Bull Racing F1 team principal Christian Horner has worked with Max Verstappen for eight years ever since the Dutchman joined the team in 2016.
Throughout the years, Horner could observe the young, talented, but inexperienced driver grow into the triple World Champion that he is today. Asked to name the 26-year-old's strongest assets, Horner told the media:
"The ability to adapt and extract the most out of a car, and the confidence he has in himself and the belief and the determination that he has."
The team principal has also worked with the four-time World Champion
Sebastian Vettel in the past but suggested he has never seen the ability to adapt and be one with a car that Verstappen has.
"You see it time and time again, whether it is on an out-lap, whether it is on an in-lap or the first lap of FP1 where there are changing conditions, the ability to adapt and be at one with the car is beyond anything we've ever seen before."
"He doesn't leave anything on the table, ad he wants it all. That drives and motivates the team internally and he is relentless in terms of his pursuit of performance. He just doesn't want to win, he wants to dominate."
Verstappen won the Championship seven races (including sprints) before the end of the season. However, he didn't lift off and won every single one of the remaining races. Horner added:
"You see that in any great sportsperson, their pursuit of excellence and to dominate is a hallmark of what makes him such an exceptional talent."