'It Was Obvious' That Verstappen's Success Could Not Continue Says Hakkinen

Friday, 06 September 2024 at 10:26

Double F1 World Champion Mika Hakkinen explained why he believed Max Verstappen's success with Red Bull cannot continue for much longer.

The latest Formula 1 race weekend in Italy marked the sixth consecutive weekend without a victory for the Red Bull Racing team and Max Verstappen.

What's even worse for the triple World Champion and the team from Milton Keynes is that they weren't even close to winning the Italian Grand Prix, as they had the fourth-fastest car on the grid.

That is a huge contrast to their stellar start to the 2024 season when Verstappen won seven out of the first ten Grand Prix races.

However, according to former F1 driver and a double World Champion, Mika Hakkinen, it was clear with everything that was happening inside the team that this success could not continue. He told Unibet International:

"Of course, everything looked pretty good at the start of the year, getting some victories, but in my opinion, it was obvious this journey for success could not continue."

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"It could not continue because simply...would I say, politics or conflicts inside the team, help from the team-mate. All these things have not been able to move the team positively forward, and that's influencing Max's performance."

The Dutchman doesn't have a car that would allow him to bring home more victories, and Hakkinen believes Sergio Perez should be partially blamed for that. He continued:

"The driver has to be clear-minded all the time, has to focus on racing, fitness, mental strength, and if the team is having problems..."

"Adrian Newey, the great designer leaving from the team, all these things influence Max's performance. It's obvious."

Following the 2024 Italian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen said neither Constructor's nor Drivers' Championships were realistic for Red Bull with their current level of performance. Whether they can improve in time to hold on to both or at least one of the two titles remains to be seen.