Christian Horner speaks on the records that Max Verstappen is setting and dominance he has shown in F1 2022, as the Dutchman adds his views.
For Verstappen, he has won under his own duress, 70% of the 2022 Grands Prix. It’s a record in terms of wins for one driver in one season where he beat the previous best of Michael Schumacher and Vettel of 13 races and he has two more races to go still. The Dutchman is catching and beating the latter’s records as a Red Bull driver.
They are two different drivers of seemingly different eras and Horner has equal praise for both but reckons Verstappen hasn’t got the due he deserves for the work he has done. “Two very different drivers, two phenomenally successful drivers,” he said to media. “I think that what Sebastian has achieved in his career puts him amongst one of the greats and most successful drivers in the sport”.
“With Max, what we are seeing this year, we’re actually witnessing something very special. His achievements sometimes don’t receive the plaudits that they should, because actually what we’ve witnessed this year is an absolutely outstanding performance from a driver that is very much at the top of his game,” summed up Horner.
There have been seasons in the past where teams and/or drivers have dominated the sport. Lotus in 1978, McLaren in 1984, Williams in 1992, Ferrari in the Noughties. Of course, Mercedes have had a domination period in the hybrid era too. Schumacher and Vettel too had dominant periods but this year is a bit different as of the 20 races thus far, Verstappen has only failed to win six.
“There’s been years of domination with Mercedes, but I think as an individual driver, probably yes,” noted Horner. “He’s won the most grands prix in a year now, within 21 races. On top of that, he’s won two sprint races, and he’s not won all of them from pole position. He’s had to fight and race for a lot of those victories”.
“I think when we look back at the end of the year, it is an absolutely outstanding year that Max has driven. He hasn’t put a wheel wrong. He’s been perfect throughout the season. It’s incredible the level of consistency that he’s been able to achieve,” summed up Horner.
Records are there and made to be broken. Verstappen is happy with the wins but he is not looking at every stat that comes his way. The main goal is to win races and eventually the championships. “I was never really interested in stats,” he said. “I just live in the moment. I just try to – of course – do the best I can every single weekend. I try to win the races and that, for me, is the most important”.
“Every single weekend when I go home, and I can say to myself that I maximised or close to that I’m happy. But of course, a lot in Formula 1 depends on your whole package , right? And we are having a great package and I’m just enjoying the moment and I’m not that interested in keeping in touch with every stat. But of course, it is an amazing season and of course I’m very happy with winning so many races,” summed up Verstappen, who also broke the record of most points in year with 416 (and counting).
Here’s Max Verstappen, Christian Horner on Sky F1
