Former Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel has praised his successor, Max Verstappen. Both drivers won four world titles for the Austrian team, something that the reigning world champion can now use to his advantage in the title fight with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, according to Vettel. In addition, the former world champion also sees something special in Verstappen: ‘We know he’s good, but he just keeps improving.’
Before Max Verstappen won the world title four times as a driver for Red Bull between 2021 and 2024, Sebastian Vettel did the same between 2010 and 2013. The German has since bid farewell to Formula 1, but still closely follows all developments in the premier class. Like all other Formula 1 fans, Vettel is also watching the title fight between Verstappen and the McLaren drivers with anticipation this year. The German particularly notices something about the Dutchman.
“The scary thing is that he keeps getting better. We know he’s good, but he keeps improving. He remains hungry and he continues to be willing to learn,” Vettel praises the current world champion in the Beyond the Grid podcast. “I think he also works very hard behind the scenes, and that’s what makes him so strong. And of course, he is also blessed with a lot of talent.” However, according to Vettel, Verstappen distinguishes himself from the rest of the Formula 1 grid in another area. “In important situations, he keeps his cool. He hardly ever makes mistakes, performs when necessary, and can handle pressure well.”
Pressure
The former Red Bull driver was then asked whether Verstappen is therefore better able to withstand the increasing pressure in the final phase of the current season than his McLaren rivals. “Yes, because he has already won the championship. Not many people have won so many championships, but I have been lucky enough to have won a few,” says the German with a wink. “Max doesn’t need to prove to himself that he can win a championship, and in the position he is in now, in the race, it’s more: ‘Okay, I just have to do everything perfectly’, and if it works, it works. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work.”
