Red Bull’s Max Verstappen is on the verge of cementing his title in Formula One’s historical past books at Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix, however for the 25-year-old Dutchman, it’s not about information; it’s concerning the thrill of victory.
After matching Sebastian Vettel’s exceptional feat of 9 consecutive victories on the Dutch GP, Verstappen now eyes the legendary Monza monitor, the place he might seize the file for himself.
“I mean, I never thought that I would win nine in a row, first of all,” Verstappen admitted. “But yeah, now that we are here, of course I’ll try to win 10, but it’s more about that I want to just win.”
Sebastian Vettel initially set the file for consecutive wins again in 2013 throughout Red Bull’s dominant period, the place he clinched 4 consecutive titles.
Verstappen vividly remembers his teenage amazement at Vettel’s achievement.
“I remember when he did it, I said ‘Wow, that’s just a crazy number. I think no one ever will do something like that’,” Verstappen stated. “And here we are … but I’m also not really too fixated on it.”
Although Monza could seem to be an opportune second for Verstappen to increase his successful streak, some doubt that he can surpass Vettel’s “crazy number” in a season the place he has dominated relentlessly.
Last week’s victory on the Dutch GP expanded his championship lead to an enormous 138 factors as he hurtles towards a 3rd consecutive world title.
Verstappen’s personal file of 15 wins, established final 12 months, is inside attain with 9 races remaining.
He at the moment boasts 46 victories, inserting him fifth on the all-time wins record. Alain Prost (51) and Vettel (53) are effectively inside his grasp.
As Verstappen continues his meteoric rise, conversations have already begun concerning his place among the many all-time greats, regardless of his youth.
“Well, I mean, everyone, of course, has their own opinion about these kind of things,” Verstappen responded. “But for me, I’m not – I was never – in F1 to try and prove that I belong in between other people’s names…”
This weekend, Monza might probably pose a problem for Verstappen, as he has traditionally struggled on the Italian Grand Prix, regardless of breaking his winless streak on the monitor final 12 months.
Before his victory on the Temple of Speed, Verstappen’s finest end at Monza was fifth place in 2018.
Red Bull has triumphed in each race this season, making it the simple front-runner within the constructors’ standings, identical to Verstappen within the drivers’ championship.
The workforce’s purpose is to safe a record-extending fifteenth consecutive win on Sunday.
However, regardless of Verstappen’s air of invincibility, some consider that Red Bull could face challenges at Monza, famend for being the quickest monitor on the calendar.
Verstappen, nevertheless, exudes confidence, stating, “People are allowed to wish for these kind of things but I think this is going to be a good track for us.”
Perez and the hole to Verstappen
Red Bull’s dominance extends past Verstappen’s particular person achievements, because the workforce reigns supreme within the constructors’ standings.
Unbeaten thus far, Red Bull is poised to chase its fifteenth consecutive win on Sunday, however the lion’s share of factors has been collected by Verstappen, who has secured victory in 11 of the 13 races this season. In distinction, his teammate, Sergio Perez, has claimed solely two victories.
Perez candidly admitted, “It’s quite hard to see as his teammate, you know,” acknowledging Verstappen’s unimaginable consistency and efficiency whatever the circumstances.
Perez loved a powerful begin to the season, clinching victories in two of the opening 4 rounds. However, his season skilled a downturn thereafter, however he’s optimistic about higher races sooner or later.
“Definitely I went through a bit of a tough patch through the middle of the season where I was struggling the most with the car,” Perez defined. “But I think that’s all behind us, and we should be having good races from now on.”
Ferrari’s uphill battle at house
Ferrari, the enduring Italian workforce, has skilled a difficult run at its house monitor in recent times, leaving the passionate native followers, referred to as “tifosi,” craving for achievement.
Charles Leclerc secured a memorable victory for Scuderia Ferrari in 2019, however that continues to be the workforce’s sole win at Monza since 2010.
Last 12 months, Leclerc got here tantalizingly shut to a different victory however finally completed in second place, partly because of a contentious technique choice.
Ferrari has grappled with a number of strategic blunders and peculiar incidents over the previous two seasons, together with a current setback on the Zandvoort monitor.
The workforce’s unpredictable efficiency, coupled with its checkered current historical past, presents a problem for Charles Leclerc and his teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. However, Leclerc stays hopeful, stating, “We should be a bit more competitive here. Then, whether it will be enough to fight for the podium, I don’t know but I really hope so, and we will do everything for it, for sure.”
Source: www.dailysabah.com
