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F1 legend praises Verstappen: "That is the quality of a champion"

19 October 2021 at 20:44
Last update 19 October 2021 at 21:44
  • GPblog.com

Mario Andretti may be 81 years old, but that doesn't stop him from continuing to follow Formula One. The motorsport legend says he is enjoying the current title battle that is taking place between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.

"It's finally unpredictable," Andretti said on the F1 Nation podcast. "There's more than one main player. Even Valtteri Bottas is there to if something is going on with Lewis."

Verstappen lays foundations for exciting season

"But let's be honest: Verstappen is always there, and he will be there until the end," continued the 1978 world champion. When asked who his favorite for the title is, he responds: "I'd like to see it be Max because he's not a champion yet. From a fan's point of view, you'd like to see someone new become champion."

He continued: "When Max came to Formula 1 he showed some very special things right from the start, like that wet race in Brazil. He has always shown things like that. He's a force to be reckoned with no matter where you go. That's the quality of a champion, no matter how you look at it."