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How does Horner see Verstappen's future? 'A lot depends on that'
- Toby McLuskie
It is a question asked to many Formula One connoisseurs: where does Max Verstappen stand in relation to the all-time greats in the history of the sport? Christian Horner, despite all his praise for his own star driver, has always been somewhat reluctant to make comparisons, but even the Red Bull Racing team boss can now argue that he rightfully belongs in the list of the greatest F1 drivers ever.
"Of course, it's always incredibly difficult to compare drivers from different generations but what I think is safe to say with what Max has achieved in a short period of time, with now three world championships, 51 or 52 Grand Prix victories, is an incredible, incredible record. I think that he can now be spoken about in the same sentence, in the same category, as some of the greatest drivers that the sport has ever seen," Horner told Bloomberg.
How does Horner envisage Verstappen's future? "He's still so young. He's still evolving as a driver, particularly as he gains more experience. A lot depends on the equipment that we can give him, but I think he can achieve a lot more. He's motivated, he's hungry, and he just loves his racing. You can see that. He's not interested in anything else other than just going racing."
Horner: 'That's what Max has become so good at'
After the Brazilian Grand Prix, Horner praised a specific trait of the Dutchman that he has continued to refine throughout his career. "Everybody manages their pace differently in a race," the 49-year-old Briton was quoted by Motor Sport Magazine as saying.
"Max has become so good at reading a race. He doesn’t panic if he sees Lando taking time out of him in the middle sector or whatever, because he’s looking at the long game and I think he’s just got that inner confidence that he knows where he is. I think 2019 was when he really stepped up that aspect of his game, of maximising the tyres."