After a banner year, Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen is not yet ready for the end of the 2023 season.
Especially when another plateau can be reached at the final Grand Prix of the season in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
Another victory would give him 54 in his career and he would overtake former Red Bull star Sebastian Vettel for third place in the sport’s history.
“That’s a pretty crazy number. “We’ve had a very crazy year,” Verstappen said. It’s going to end at some point, but I hope it’s not too soon. »
Verstappen clinched his third drivers’ championship in a row a few weeks ago and is aiming for a 19th victory this season, which would be a record. He already held the previous record, set last year, with 15 triumphs in one season.
“I love flying. “It’s the most important thing and winning is the best feeling in Formula 1,” he said. At the same time, I am very focused on what awaits me. I hope we have a competitive car again next year and continue this momentum. »
There will be new goals next year: aiming for a fourth F1 title to match Vettel and Alain Prost, and closing in on seven-time F1 champions Michael Schumacher (91 wins) and Lewis Hamilton (103) for the most race victories.
But Verstappen is only 26 and has many years left to close the gap.
His highlights for 2024?
“Coming from behind to win the Miami Grand Prix was great. I think it was important, he said. Winning at Suzuka (Japan), after the difficult race we had in Singapore (when Ferrari won). »
It’s hard to believe now, as Verstappen leads Red Bull teammate Sergio Pérez by 276 points – the approximate total of 11 wins – but heading into the fifth race of the season the gap was tight between them.
After winning two of the first four races, Pérez presented himself as a title contender – a claim he backed up by claiming the pole position at the Miami Grand Prix in May.
Verstappen botched qualifying and started from ninth place, but still won the event. Pérez never recovered and the title was never in doubt afterward.
“Max has been incredible this year. Nobody thought we could do better than in 2022, underlined Christian Horner, director of the Red Bull team. We need to start talking about him among the biggest names in sport. He still has a lot of races ahead of him. »
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc has not won since the Austrian Grand Prix in July last year.
“To be honest, it’s been a disappointing season,” he argued. After last year we wanted to try to fight for the championship, (but) after the first race (this year) we immediately understood how difficult it would be. »
Leclerc’s superb pass on Pérez on the final lap of the Las Vegas Grand Prix to finish second last weekend showed he is in top form. This raises hopes for 2024, when he should have a faster and more reliable car.
“There is a big gap to fill,” maintained Leclerc. I hope we come back stronger next year with a car capable of winning. »
Red Bull’s dominance has given others very little to compete for. But there is still something at stake this weekend for Ferrari and Mercedes: the second tier of the constructors’ championship.
Mercedes has a four-point lead, 392 to 388, but Leclerc has been on the podium in two of the last three races.
“The dynamic is good, but the big work remains to be done on the track,” said Leclerc. We will have to do everything we can to beat them in the constructors’ championship. »
His teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. took victory at the Singapore Grand Prix two months ago, and he remains the only non-Red Bull driver to have won a race this year.
Mercedes driver George Russell expects the difference to be made on race day.
“We come at it with an open mind,” he said. In qualifying I think they will have a bit of an upper hand, as they tend to do this season, but next Sunday I think it will be a different story. »
Russell led the first practice session ahead of Aston Martin reserve Felipe Drugovich and AlphaTauri’s Daniel Ricciardo. Most of the big names did not participate as nine of the ten teams completed one of their mandatory young driver testing days.
Leclerc led the second session ahead of Lando Norris and Verstappen. That session was halted after nine minutes when Sainz lost control of his car exiting Turn 3. He slid into the safety barriers, causing a red flag.
The drivers returned to the track after 25 minutes, but another red flag immediately appeared when Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg lost the rear of his car at Turn 1.
