Max Verstappen races from victory to victory in Formula 1. He dominates the premier class of motorsport at will. Despite the superiority, the Dutchman has a curious wish: the competition should put more pressure on him.
He is the driver to beat at the moment. Verstappen won the last three races. The victories won were hardly in danger. So that interest in Formula 1 is not lost, the 25-year-old would like more competition.
“I think it’s good for the sport when several teams fight for the lead in Formula 1,” said the two-time world champion after the last race in Barcelona. In this context, Verstappen named the Silver Arrows around Lewis Hamilton and George Russell as potential opponents.
“I think the goal for the other teams is to close the gap with us [Red Bull] close. Honestly that would be great if there are multiple riders at the front. Hopefully this will happen during the course of the season, otherwise next season at the latest,” said Verstappen.
Formula 1: Verstappen on the way to the third world title?
The fact is: The Red Bull driver will dominate Formula 1 in 2023 at will. In the two races that the Dutchman failed to win, he finished second.
After seven of 22 races, Verstappen leads the Formula 1 driver standings with 170 points. The Dutchman currently has 53 points more than his team-mate Sergio Pérez. The first competitor not sitting in the Red Bull is Fernando Alonso. In his Aston Martin, the Spaniard is even 71 points behind the high-flyer of recent years.
Although Verstappen’s wish may sound strange at first, Verstappen’s intention is all the more understandable.