After two race weekends, Max Verstappen is currently in second place in the championship, trailing behind rival Lando Norris. Recent results suggest that McLaren has a more complete vehicle; the Dutchman should be concerned about his fifth title. Former champion Sebastian Vettel, on the other hand, hopes that his good friend Lewis Hamilton will once again become champion, but also acknowledges that we should never underestimate Verstappen.
In an episode of the British show BBC Sportsworld, Sebastian Vettel revealed that he still regularly communicates with Verstappen via WhatsApp. When the Dutch champion was on the verge of breaking an impressive record set by Vettel in the 2023 season, the German was the first to motivate him. While Vettel won nine Grand Prix races in a row in 2013, Verstappen was able to surpass that record ten years later with ten consecutive victories.
‘If anyone can do it, it’s him’
“I was in contact with him (Verstappen) when he was about to break the record,” Vettel revealed. “I was at nine and when he matched that, I told him: ‘You’re better than me. Of course, you can beat me.’ He replied: ‘I’m not sure, I’m not sure.’ And then he still won ten races in a row.” Carlos Sainz’s victory at the Singapore GP kept the record at ten wins.
In the current season, Verstappen can only dream of a new winning streak. For now, he is falling behind both McLaren drivers in his RB21. Vettel, who previously stated that he hopes Lewis Hamilton will take the title, is confident that Verstappen can still fight back. “I’m pretty sure he can do it,” he explained. “If anyone can do it, it’s him. He has already won enough titles with Red Bull. But we’ll see, for me it’s just exciting to follow.” Vettel retired from racing in 2023.
