Max Verstappen Downplays Key Handicap in F1 Title Battle With Hamilton

Max Verstappen is embroiled in a dogged title fight with Lewis Hamilton for the 2021 F1 Title. Even though only one of the twenty-three rounds has been contested yet, everyone feels that it will go down to the wire between these two. However, Verstappen may slightly be on the backfoot because of his previous experiences, or lack thereof.

The Dutchman entered the F1 scene in 2015, merely at 17 years of age. Before that, he had just a single season in single-seater racing. It was in 2014, where he finished third in the European Formula 3 Championship as Esteban Ocon took home the title.

Hence, his spontaneous promotion to the pinnacle of motorsports meant he could not become a champion even once in the junior categories. So, he does not have that experience at the top level yet even though he won numerous accolades in Karting.

But it does not bother him, “It’s very different [being in a title fight]. Of course, in that scenario, you don’t need to win every single battle or race. But that’s a natural thing.”

“It doesn’t mean that because I didn’t win a title, for example, that I don’t understand that. Because I won many titles in go-karting and it’s basically the same – you choose your battles. Also, I only had one attempt of winning a title in F3, and of course, yeah, it didn’t happen,” said Verstappen.

You need ‘luck’ to win the F1 world championship: Max Verstappen

Although F1 is an individual sport like tennis, you need more than just sheer talent to be successful. For there are notable differences in the machinery that every F1 driver has. And Max is not oblivious to it despite his raw speed.

“You just need the luck – that you’re in the right team, at the right place and are dominant for a long time. And that not always happens. You have to accept that; ‘I hope that I will be in a position to fight for a championship or whatever, in the near future.'”

While the Red Bull driver has not had the ultimate glory yet, we can put our money on him winning the F1 World Championship in the near future. If that future so happens to be the end of the year, all the merrier for him.

Read More – Where Is Max Verstappen From? What Is His Nationality?