A clean slate in Formula 1 is a pretty rare sight nowadays. With the sport arguably becoming a huge commercial and technical rat race, the governing body and the sport have brought in periods of ‘technical lock-ins’. That is to say, a set of regulations remains constant while teams are able to fiddle around to get incremental benefits and pace in the car. From 2018 onwards, the aero regulations were pretty tight. Hence, we seldom saw any change in the pecking order, at least at the very top. In 2022, the teams finally got their proverbial clean slate. However, according to 2x Champion Max Verstappen, now that the year has ended, teams have sealed their fates for the foreseeable future.

Verstappen is clearly in a car that is the best amongst the 10-car pack. That being said, the chatter around the paddock has been one about the uprising of Mercedes and Ferrari in 2023. But when asked about how he feels about this, the Dutch driver had a very introspective and pragmatic answer.

Max Verstappen told Viaplay, “You can see it when the rules change and some teams get it right once you understand what you are doing, you work more or less from there and take small steps forward. But when you’re wrong , you have to reinvent and try again, you’re always behind and you have to try to catch up. We saw it with us: it took a few years to challenge Mercedes.”

“Maybe with these regulations it’s less complex, but if you’re behind you have to catch up. But while they are trying to recover, we are also trying to improve, so that’s what we have to try to do and hopefully we can prove it again.” [translated via Google]

Read More: Lewis Hamilton’s School Boy Error Once Paved the Way for an Unwanted Las Vegas Death Valley Adventure

Max Verstappen & Co have their sights firmly set on the 2023 season. And even though he isn’t very wary about an upset, he feels an uphill battle is beckoning with the former kings of this sport.

Max Verstappen deemed polite in light of 2023 Mercedes comments

Max Verstappen isn’t the kind of driver who gets complacent. He is very self-aware and always up for a challenge. This is exactly why, when he was asked about the potential threats to his throne in 2023, he was quick to point the finger at Brackley-based Mercedes.

However, his assessment of the Silver Arrows hasn’t been taken that seriously by an ex-Red Bull driver. Speaking to motorsport.com, Mark Webber said, “I think that is especially very polite of Max. I still think Red Bull will again be the most dangerous team at the start of the season. They gave a kind of clinic to the others. Once Max got comfortable in the car there was no stopping the rest at all.”

Watch This Story: Ugliest Moments in Hamilton-Rosberg Rivalry

Is Verstappen’s assessment accurate? Can Lewis Hamilton and Co. pose a serious threat to Verstappen’s crown next season?