Max Verstappen refuses to rule out a potential title rematch with Lewis Hamilton
The Dutchman believes Mercedes can find untapped potential from its design philosophy soon.
Follow Us
Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton
The 2023 Formula 1 season is in full swing. Reigning world champions, Red Bull Racing is considered a favorite for the second year of the new F1 regulations. Whereas former world champions Mercedes expect to slip lower down the order. Yet, a two-time champion, Max Verstappen, believes Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes might just catch up to the Austrian team.
The Dutchman was adamant about not ruling out the British driver from title contention. The 25-year-old said, “I don’t count out Lewis and Mercedes.” Max Verstappen believed that Mercedes could possibly extract big gains from its unique zero-side pod design. He stated, “They have a different philosophy and maybe it takes a little bit more time to nail it..”
The Red Bull driver described the uncertainty about the saturation of new F1 cars that can possibly provide substantial gains. Max Verstappen said, “With these new cars, we don’t know what direction it is going to give the biggest margin in terms of where you improve.” The Dutchman even entertained the possibility of Adrian Newey’s design reaching its development potential. He explained, “Maybe at one point, we stall, I don’t know. Maybe they still have a lot of untapped potential.”
Discover: Formula 1 drivers’ ages: From the oldest to the youngest on the 2023 grid
Mercedes is skeptical of matching rivals in the early 2023 season
Contrary to the opinion of Max Verstappen, the Silver Arrows are less enthusiastic about its prospects this year. Team Principal Toto Wolff has publicly affirmed his stance on the German team failing to close the gap with Red Bull. However, Mercedes is working extensively on bringing upgrades to the W14. Similarly, George Russell expects Team Brackley to be way off the pace in Bahrain.
Lewis Hamilton has given the same signs as his colleagues about Mercedes’ position in the pecking order. The 38-year-old is still hungry to win a record-breaking eighth F1 world title. The chances for such an instance seem grim for now after the 7-time world champion described the team’s difficulties during pre-season testing.
Max Verstappen is cautious about finding Mercedes chasing the Dutchman on track. This would allow fans to witness round two of the dramatic rivalry between the Dutchman and Hamilton. The 25-year-old won the 2021 title fight, but his win was riddled with controversies. Many fans want the two drivers to have another go at each other, this time a universally accepted fair and square fight.
In case you missed it:
Stay Updated!
Armaan Agarwal
(2401 Articles Published)