Verstappen began the race at Spa-Francorchamps in sixth position. However, on lap 17, he managed to surpass his teammate Sergio Perez and secure the first place effortlessly. Perez finished the race 22 seconds behind Verstappen, while Red Bull’s closest competitor, Charles Leclerc, trailed by 32 seconds.
In 2023, Red Bull has been incredibly successful, with their RB19 winning all 12 races up to this point. Horner believes that Verstappen’s consistent victories and his effortless execution of his eighth consecutive race win indicate that something extraordinary is happening in F1.
Horner expressed his belief that there was a sense of dominance over all others at that particular time. Overall, it has been exceptionally impressive,” stated Horner. “The current performance of Max is a rare occurrence that only happens once in a lifetime.”
Horner was asked about the difference between Verstappen and Perez in terms of their abilities with the Red Bull car. He responded by saying that Verstappen, who is on his way to winning his third consecutive drivers’ world championship, possesses that additional capability that all great drivers have.
Currently, what we are observing and experiencing from him is his talent in interpreting the tire’s behavior, comprehending a race, and maximizing his performance to the fullest extent possible.
“It’s wonderful to witness. I believe he is currently performing exceptionally well.”
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Erik Junius
When asked by Motorsport.com if Verstappen’s performance still surprises him, Red Bull’s advisor Helmut Marko responded, “If you are eight-tenths ahead in qualifying, it means there is still room for improvement and a margin to push further.”
However, it is also about his current level of intelligence and skill in driving. He carefully considers all the maneuvers to pass other cars and has an exceptional ability to understand the races. This is evident in his discussions with his race engineer too.
The current display from him is truly remarkable, and the same can be said for the entire team. There are hardly any pitstops taking longer than 2.5 seconds, the strategy is solid, and we haven’t encountered any technical problems thus far. Therefore, the entire team is performing exceptionally well.
Max Verstappen enters the summer break of Formula 1 with 314 points, while Perez trails behind with 189 points. Verstappen has the potential to secure his third world championship as soon as the Japanese Grand Prix in September, just like he did in 2022.
Additional reporting by Ronald Vording
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