Mansell Praises Verstappen: 'Got to Take Your Hat Off to Max'

Friday, 04 October 2024 at 10:00

Former F1 driver and the 1992 World Champion Nigel Mansell praised Max Verstappen for delivering incredible performances even with an inferior car.

Red Bull Racing Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen started the 2024 season with the best car and managed to build up all of his Championship lead in the first five races preceding the Miami Grand Prix.

In Miami, McLaren introduced an upgrade that made their car faster than Red Bull's. Following the race in Miami, Verstappen's lead in the Championship decreased by seven points—from 59 to 52.

However, 12 race weekends have passed since the sixth round of the season in Miami, and incredibly, the Dutchman's lead ahead of Lando Norris in second place is precisely the same - 52 points at the moment. Former F1 driver Nigel Mansell told the Top Offshore Sportsbooks:

"I think this is the fantastic thing about Formula One. Anything's possible. Max being the reigning World Champion and he's got an unbelievable advantage to win another World Championship this year."

"And with all the things that have been happening with Red Bull you have got to take your hat off to Max that he's kept his concentration. His car's not as competitive as the others at the moment and he's done some fantastic drives."

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Since the Miami Grand Prix, Verstappen has won three Grand Prix races, scored seven podiums, and his average finishing position was 3.3. In comparison, Norris's average finishing position was 4.08 (including P20 after retirement in Austria),

When Mansell was asked whether he could imagine the triple World Champion moving to Mercedes or Aston Martin in the future, he responded:

"I think the merry-go-round he could be moving to Mercedes. But it's' going to be interesting and hopefully Red Bull will be able to keep him. I think he's' under contract anyway, but I know, having been in Formula One, anything is possible."