Reflecting on the lengthy season in 2024, Crimson Bull’s motorsport advisor Dr Helmut Marko highlighted the Sao Paulo Grand Prix the place the now four-time world champion Max Verstappen confirmed a “psychological humiliation” in the direction of his rivals.
Having clinched the victory in all however one race in 2023 in an completely dominant yr for Crimson Bull, the Milton Keynes-based outfit began this yr’s marketing campaign in a equally dominant style.
Max Verstappen received the opening two races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia earlier than retiring from the lead in Spherical 3 in Australia with a brake problem. Nonetheless, he then went on to win in Japan, China, Imola, Canada and Spain to clinch seven victories within the opening ten races.
Nonetheless, he then did not win within the following ten rounds, however the São Paulo Grand Prix noticed the Dutch driver emerge victorious in moist climate circumstances. The Las Vegas Grand Prix noticed Verstappen clinch his fourth F1 title with two rounds nonetheless left within the season
Reflecting on the lengthy season in his column on Speedweek, Crimson Bull’s motorsport advisor Dr Helmut Marko acknowledged that Verstappen has been the strongest driver mentally this yr.
“An extended season has come to an finish in Abu Dhabi, and Max Verstappen has as soon as once more proven his class and defended his world championship title. Max has matured additional this yr. He was one of the best mentally, as a driver and in one-on-one fight, and he has realized to solely obtain what is critical.
“If anybody had mentioned at the start of the yr that he would wave Lewis Hamilton and the 2 Ferraris previous as a result of he was fascinated by the world championship, that may have been declared nonsense. However he did it as a result of he is aware of what he has to focus on.
“In Brazil, he confirmed on a moist observe what he can do below essentially the most troublesome circumstances. It was a masterpiece, as a result of it was the World Championship, and the stress on his shoulders was correspondingly nice. He had already put in a very good efficiency in 2016 in Interlagos below comparable circumstances. However he made just a few errors again then.
“This time he made no errors, and that reveals how sturdy his nerves are. The 17 laps he accomplished on the finish of the race have been a psychological humiliation for the competitors; he outclassed everybody and proved as soon as once more why he is likely one of the greatest within the sport.
Talking of the Verstappen’s notion, Marko added: “That’s our prime precedence, and his prime precedence. We’re not involved with the rankings of journalists or any diploma of recognition. The world championship title is awarded primarily based on factors, and these converse clearly for Max.
“It’s true that there’s not essentially an goal steadiness within the English media. However I feel that the phenomenon that at all times performs a job is that the one that comes on the scene as a brand new, potential star or hunter enjoys extra sympathy than the established champion. However Max would not care, he at all times says what he thinks and reveals his feelings, and I feel that is proper,” concluded the Austrian.
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