Adrian Newey declares Max Verstappen as one of F1’s all-time greats

At the 2023 Dutch GP, Max Verstappen equaled Sebastian Vettel’s record for the most consecutive wins.

Adrian Newey and Max Verstappen (Image via Imago)

In a display of sheer dominance, Red Bull continues to steamroll through the 2023 season with an unbroken streak of 13 victories. At the recent Zandvoort race, Max Verstappen notched his ninth consecutive home win, solidifying his prowess. This dual triumph on the horizon not only cements Verstappen and his team but also adds to Adrian Newey‘s storied accomplishments across Williams, McLaren, and beyond.

Adrian Newey remarked that Max Verstappen has unquestionably secured a place among the pantheon of racing legends due to his current outstanding performance. Newey further elaborated that Max’s triumph in the ’21 championship had effectively relieved him of considerable pressure. He was resulting in a marked enhancement in his driving prowess.

“Max is clearly one of the all-time greats and he’s at the top of his game. Since he won the championship in ’21 I think that took a took a lot of pressure off himself, and his driving has got a lot better for that,” Adrian Newey told Autosports.

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Adrian Newey shares insights into Max Verstappen’s racing brilliance

Max Verstappen winning his ninth consecutive win of the season (Image credit: iNews)

Leading up to the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix, Max Verstappen’s tally boasts an impressive 339 points, garnered through a remarkable tally of 11 victories and six fastest laps across 13 races. Additionally, he clinched two Sprint wins, further solidifying his prowess. Notably, over these 13 races, a mere 23 points slipped from his grasp, with his teammate Sergio Perez emerging as the closest contender at 201 points.

In the same interview, Adrian Newey expanded on Max Verstappen’s racing finesse, noting a striking depth of connection. He emphasized a trait synonymous with motorsport icons: Max’s instinctual command of the car, allowing mental bandwidth for intricate race considerations. This distinctive skill, Newey highlighted, underscores Max’s remarkable blend of immediate control and strategic acumen on the track.

?️ | Adrian Newey: “Max is clearly one of the all-time greats and he's at the top of his game

Since he won the championship in '21 I think that took a took a lot of pressure off himself, and his driving has got a lot better for that”

“He's totally in tune. The thing about Max,… pic.twitter.com/0c1bCamtao
— RBR News ???? (@redbulletin) August 30, 2023

“He’s totally in tune. The thing about Max, like all the real greats, is that you have the impression he almost drives the car on automatic, which leaves plenty of processing power to think about everything,” Newey further continued.

Securing a triumph at the forthcoming Italian Grand Prix in Monza would surpass the record currently held jointly with Sebastian Vettel. Interestingly, this achievement would occur on the very circuit where Vettel achieved his first of 53 victories in 2008, lending a touch of a fitting coincidence to the situation.