Ex-F1 Champion reveals what it would take to beat Max Verstappen

Verstappen is one title short of equaling Sebastian Vettel's 2010-2013 record with Red Bull.

Ex-F1 Champion reveals what it would take to beat Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen. (Credits: Motor 24)

Red Bull and Max Verstappen have proved themselves to be one of the most dangerous partnerships in F1 history. Armed with the RB-19, Verstappen steamrolled through the 2023 season, winning the championship with six races still remaining. As their rivals still ponder over how to end this domination, 1996 F1 Champion Damon Hill has given his take on the situation.

Red Bull’s rivals have been constantly tussling amongst themselves this season. Meanwhile, Red Bull sits comfortably at the top, completely unrivaled. Hill claimed that Verstappen and Red Bull have come close to perfection in 2023. He said that the teams will have to break their boundaries if they want to come close to winning the championship. According to Hill, it would take nothing less than perfection to beat them.

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“They’ve got a tall order to match or overturn the Red Bull combination with Max Verstappen driving. They have come close to perfection this season, they really have, and they’ve broken a lot of records that have stood for a long time. So, you need to achieve perfection to be able to beat them,” Hill told Sky Sports. (H&T: Crash)

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Red Bull has wrapped up both the championships this season. With five races remaining, teams like Mercedes, Ferrari and possibly McLaren are going to fight it out for P2 in the constructors’ standings. Also, Lewis Hamilton is in the race for taking P2 in the WDC Standings from Sergio Perez.

Also read: Sergio Perez makes a radical demand to Red Bull to prevent another disastrous season in 2024

Damon Hill claims Max Verstappen is a “new breed” of driver

Verstappen has been the recipient of praise from several notable personalities this year. His record-breaking 2023 season will go down as one of the most iconic seasons of Formula One. Recently, Damon Hill also applauded the Dutchman, branding him as a “new breed” of driver.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen (via autoX)

Hill compared Verstappen to the likes of Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton. He said that the guidance of his father, Jos Verstappen, has been pivotal in his success. Like Hamilton and Schumacher, Verstappen also started out at a very young age. Hill said that he has been coached in the right way and has matured with his career.

“He’s a new breed of driver…  he had all that experience of Jos Verstappen coaching him and giving him all the right direction.  He came into F1 aged 17, before he could even drive a road car, and was volatile and quick. He managed to combine the youth and speed with experience now,” said Hill.

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