Hakkinen holds back on predicting a Verstappen title in 2024
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There wasn't an exciting battle for the F1 World Championship titles in 2023. Max Verstappen was already sure of his third championship in a row with six races to go, and the Dutchman is favourite to clinch another title in 2024. Mika Hakkinen acknowledges that Verstappen is the towering favourite, yet he is still holding back.
Speaking to German newspaper Bild, the two-time world champion says there are countless examples from the past that had a much weaker season than estimated beforehand. "How many times have there been teams and drivers who were considered certain world champions even before the first round during winter testing and then never became champions? Too many times."
"Don't get me wrong: I agree that Red Bull and Max Verstappen in particular are likely to call the shots, but we shouldn't start acting as if they have the trophies in before even one metre has been driven," Hakkinen said. This year's winter tests are again in Bahrain, from 21 February to 23 February.
Hamilton and Schumacher
Verstappen, at 26, already has three world titles to his name, and his chances of a fourth are extremely good. Is there any possibility of the Red Bull Racing driver winning eight or more World Championships in his career, breaking the record shared by Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton? Hakkinen doesn't want to be too harsh on this front either.
"He is well on his way. But here too, you shouldn't be too premature. What Max has achieved in recent years is incredible. But he needs four more world titles to match them. Max has the talent to become the best of all time, but it is not just down to him," said the 55-year-old Finn, referring to the fact that Red Bull does need to provide him with a fast car to compete at the front at all.