On reflection it is almost impossible to imagine that Max Verstappen had any struggles at all during his all conquering 2023 Formula One campaign. Yet early in the season nothing was set in stone and the world champion was struggling with his new RB19. After four rounds Verstappen had won just two races with his team mate hot on his heels and a Ferrari which looked much better over one lap in qualifying.

Baku was extremely disappointing for Verstappen who lost to Perez an then had an off camera rant which only recently came to light. Then came the run of 10 consecutive race wins while Perez was nowhere and suddenly questions began to arise over how the RB19 was designed. Mercedes’ Toto Wolff spiced the pot suggesting the car was built for Max Verstappen’s driving style, explaining this had to be the case given the shocking results his team mate was delivering.

Verstappen was more than upset by this suggestion, describing it as “bullshit…. Every single year it’s just different. Every car drives a little bit different. People will say, ‘what is your driving style?’. My driving style is not something particular – I adapt to what I need for the car to go quick.“

 

 

 

 

Verstappen crushes Perez

Except for Perez’s two race wins, Verstappen finished ahead of his team mate in the remaining 20 Grand Prix winning nineteen of those and only once did the Red Bull ace fail to make the podium.

Perez by comparison claimed just nine podiums one ahead of Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc in much inferior cars making the presentation six times each.

By anyone’s standards this statistics are woeful for a driver whose team mate romps home to claim the F1 world championship. In Vettel’s dominant four years, Mark Webber faired much better as did Nico Rosberg and Valterri Bottas when Lewis Hamilton was ruling the roost.

Yet a poll today in the Express surprisingly shows that F1 fans are still behind Checo and the publications thousands of readers gave their vote of confidence to the number two Red Bull driver.

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F1 fans support Checo

When asked whether Rede Bull should have sacked Perez at the end of the 2023 season a resounding 64% believed not and looking forward a majority again believe he will see out his contract with the world champion team until the end of 2024.

Surprisingly Express readers also believe the paddock favourite Daniel Ricciardo should not replace Perez in the top Red Bull car during 2024 but 60% want to see Lando Norris replace him when his current deal expires.

On the topic of the best team principal, Christian Honer surprisingly wins out against his arch rival Toto Wolff with the Mercedes man polling just 44% of the vote.

Towards the close of the 2022 F1 season, tensions grew between Verstappen and Perez with Max refusing to allow his team mate through to claim sixth place in Brazil and Checo suggesting in public his team mate was ‘asking in character.’

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Verstappen offers team mate help

With two wins each at the start of this year it seemed as though the fiery exchanges would continue as the drivers appeared to be destined to fight a tight battle throughout the season. Of course the reality of what happened couldn’t have been in a bigger reverse story though at time Verstappen was more willing to help his team mate during the season.

At the penultimate round in Las Vegas, Perez had been awarded a five second penalty and was lying in second place behind his team mate. Verstappen offered to give him the tow in an attempt to ensure he finished five seconds clear of of the car behind, but the attempt ended in vain.

At the same event Verstappen offered to give up his right to the first pit stop for tyres, telling the team he was ok if they gave this to Checo to help him in his battle to come through the field.

So it seemed all was sweetness and light in the Red Bull camp, but now Sky F1 commentator Karun Chandhok reveals this was not in fact the case.

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Perez wins first Sprint event

Round four in Azerbaijan was the first Sprint weekend of the season and ion Friday qualifying Charles Leclerc pipped Verstappen for pole position for Sunday’s Grand Prix. On Saturday morning the Sprint shoot out again saw the Ferrari driver win out, but Perez managed to finish in P2 ahead of his team mate.

In there short Saturday afternoon race, Perez managed to jump Leclerc when DRS was activated going on to win the Sprint with Verstappen just third behind the Ferrari.

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Verstappen Baku Perez rant

Worse was to come for Max on Sunday. Having passed Charles Leclerc on lap four of the Grand Prix to take the lead, Verstappen pitted before his rival and team mate but a subsequent safety car handed Sergio Perez the opportunity for a quicker pit stop. He came out ahead of his team mate and drove a brilliant final stint on hard tyres to hold off Verstappen to the chequered flag.

“I saw Max’s Dad Jos Verstappen,” reveals Chandhok to the Sky podcast. “And we were chatting about the season and he said to me ‘Max was furious after Baku’, and when he came home he said to his Dad ‘I’m not going to get beaten by him ever again this season.”

“He was absolutely livid and he said ‘he will not beat me again’. And low and behold he was right! It was pretty devastating.”

Next time out in Miami it all went wrong for Verstappen as he qualified a lowly P9 while Perez took pole position. Yet in what was one of the world champion’s most remarkable drives this season, Verstappen carved his way through the field passing first up Valterri Bottas and he soon found himself behind Leclerc and Magnussen, passing both for sixth. 

Verstappen taken ill

 

 

 

Verstappen’s utter determination

He then passed George Russell, Pierre Gasly, Sainz, and Alonso before he found his team mate leading the race in his sights. Max reeled Checo in overtaking him in the closing stages of the race before building a five second lead he would take to the chequered flag.

Verstappen was fulfilling his promise and he went on to win 16 of the next 17 races together with taking the all time record for consecutive F1 race victories (10) which came to an abrupt end in Singapore.

Max Verstappen is now eclipsing the efforts of previous dominant F1 champions Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel. Hamilton whose career is twice the length of his Dutch rivals only ever managed five consecutive wins before losing the run to a competitor.

What Chandhok reveals about Verstappen in his Baku rant demonstrates the utter determination of the man and his ruthless approach to crushing all before him. Rarely has our sport seen this kind of talent mixed with such a winning obsession which could easily see the young Dutchman smash all of Hamilton’s records long before he even reaches 30 years of age.

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MORE F1 NEWS: Verstappen taken ill

In the annals of Formula One, few seasons have been as dominated by a single driver as the 2023 season of Max Verstappen. The Dutchman’s relentless pursuit of excellence led him to a third consecutive world championship, setting new standards and cementing his place among the sport’s greats, making the Red Bull driver seems almost invulnerable. But recent developments have shown this not to be the case.

Verstappen’s season began with an air of inevitability. From the opening race in Bahrain, it was clear that he and his Red Bull Racing team had struck a near-perfect balance between car performance and strategy. His RB19 car, a marvel of engineering, was a…READ MORE ON THIS STORY