Verstappen's Race Win Not That Difficult Says Former F1 World Champion Hill

Saturday, 11 November 2023 at 09:00

Updated at Saturday, 11 November 2023 at 09:20

F1 World Champion Damon Hill said in a recent podcast he has been in a similar situation to Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, and "it wasn't that difficult,"

Max Verstappen won his 17th Grand Prix of the season during the 2023 Sao Paulo Grand Prix. By doing so, he broke Alberto Ascari's 70-year-old record.

However, Damon Hill thinks the race wins are too easy for the Dutchman at this point. Verstappen started from the pole and basically controlled the pace until the end once he escaped Norris. Hill told Sky Sports F1 podcast:

“"I think even Dutch fans, Max fans, would want to see Max doing what he does in battle conditions."”

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On one hand, Hill appreciates the perfect execution and the incredible results of Red Bull. On the other hand, he would like to see battle for the first position.

“"I think it is great to see what they've done, it's incredible what they've achieved but, we love racing, they love racing, I don't remember seeing much of Max at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, he was out there going round."”

Hill scored 22 wins in his career and remembers races similar to Verstappen's race in Sao Paulo in which he won by a great margin. While some called them amazing performances, he says he felt like "it wasn't that difficult."

“"I've been in races where I've won by a country mile, and everyone says 'what an amazing performance' and you want to go 'well, to be honest, it wasn't that difficult' because everything went for me the right way and I just had to not make a mistake."”

Ross Brawn recently suggested Verstappen needs a stronger teammate who could compete with him and make races more interesting. Hill wants to see at least some brave overtakes like Hamilton on Perez in the first lap.

“"The things that you remember, the things that we love about sport, is the brilliant overtakes. Lewis on the first lap, down the outside of Checo, and that was a brave, brave move, and those things are what we live for."”