Prost Predicted We Would See 'Real Verstappen' After Abu Dhabi 2021

Friday, 13 December 2024 at 16:00

Four-time world champion Alain Prost suggested he we've seen real growth in Max Verstappen's approach to racing since 2021, just as he predicted we would.

Although it initially looked 2024 Drivers' Championship title would be pretty straightforward for Max Verstappen - similar to 2023, it turned out to be an extremely challenging season for him and the Red Bull Racing team.

While the Dutchman ultimately won the title in the 22nd round of the 2024 season in Las Vegas, Red Bull Racing failed to win the Constructors Championship and finished only third.

Sergio Perez's slump in performance after the fifth race of the season, when he had not finished in the top five, was also part of the reason Red Bull finished in P3.

However, it still highlights that Verstappen didn't have the fastest car on the grid for the majority of the year. When Alain Prost was asked to share his opinion on whether 2024 was Verstappen's toughest Championship title, he told L'Equipe:

"Only he can say that [if 2024 was his toughest win]. I don't know exactly what his car was really worth. And then we have to remember how controversial the 2021 title was."

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"Max won it in the circumstances we all know. It was his first title, and again, he went out and won it. Winning the first title is always difficult."

After seeing Max Verstappen win his first Championship title in Abu Dhabi, Alain Prost predicted it would free him, boost his confidence, and he would become even stronger.

"I remember very well what I said on the night of Abu Dhabi: from now on we are going to see the real Verstappen."

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"And we have seen that since then (he smiles). He has freed himself. He has put his little mistakes and his impatience behind him."

"He has become very, very strong. Looking back on this year, he had to fight hard and I think he showed great things."

Verstappen's most memorable victory from 2024 will be the wet Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Although he started from P17, the 27-year-old went on to win the race against all odds.

Not only that, but he finished more than 19 seconds ahead of everyone, putting one fastest lap after another. The Red Bull F1 driver later said it might have been one of the best performances in his career. Prost added:

"A lot of self-confidence, a lot of calmness. Even if he always grumbles - but he always did - he does it now with less irritation. That is the mark of a more mature champion."