"Can't live in a fantasy world": Max Verstappen hands out against F1 drivers
Created: 12/19/2022 5:27 am
By: Lena Hempler
Max Verstappen was the number 1 driver at Red Bull last season.
Some Formula 1 drivers just have to accept being number two, says the world champion.
Fuschl am See – For Max Verstappen, the 2022 Formula 1 season went better than initially thought.
With 454 points, he was ultimately able to win his second world championship title by a wide margin.
His teammate Sergio Pérez, on the other hand, only managed third place in the drivers' championship with 305 points.
Verstappen also set a new record with 15 wins in one season.
The figures show why the Red Bull racing team relied on the Dutchman this season.
Max Verstappen |
Born: September 30, 1997 in Hasselt (Belgium) |
Nationality: Dutch |
Racing team: Red Bull |
Greatest success: Formula 1 world champion (2021, 2022) |
Red Bull relied on world champion Verstappen - for Horner both pilots had world champion format
Nevertheless, team boss Christian Horner explained again that Pérez can also have his chance: "Of course Pérez can become world champion in this form, and for us it doesn't matter who wins the title.
Both drivers compete for Red Bull Racing, both have the same opportunities.” In the course of a season, however, it can quickly become clear which driver has the better chance of winning the World Championship - and this is also the case with Red Bull.
Sergio Pérez (left) did not have an easy season behind Max Verstappen.
© Eugene Hoshiko/AP/dpa
Max Verstappen: Valtteri Bottas has accepted role as second driver at Mercedes
Verstappen is sure that some drivers simply have to accept their role in the team.
He also made that clear on Viaplay's
"F1 Talks"
.
He was a guest there with his father Jos Verstappen and spoke about team dynamics in Formula 1, citing former Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas as an example.
He was often overshadowed by Lewis Hamilton.
“Every year he started from scratch but after a few races you realize it's not going to work out again and you accept your role in the team.
He still made it onto the podium a few times, won a few races and conquered a few poles,” said the Dutchman.
In the long run, Bottas was still not happy with this role, after all he switched to Alfa Romeo for the 2022 season and turned his back on Mercedes.
All Formula 1 world champions by number of victories
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Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen: "You can't live in a fantasy world"
“You have to accept that the driver at your side is just a little bit better than you. That's okay, things like that can happen.
And it was important that Bottas accepted that.
Some drivers can't do that, and that's when things go really wrong," said the world champion.
"Because they won't last long.
I won't name names now, but you have to accept your role in the team.
You cannot live in a fantasy world.”
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Does he mean his own teammate Sergio Pérez?
After all, there has been some tension between the two this season.
In Brazil (November 13), Verstappen turned against the team and refused to swap places with Pérez.
This caused a lot of resentment among the Mexicans and also resulted in Charles Leclerc ultimately being able to win the runner-up world title in the Ferrari.
It remains to be seen how Red Bull will handle it next season.
(Ihe)
