“Peeking” Max Verstappen Challenged by Spicy Carlos Sainz Before the 2023 Shenanigans Begin: “…Give Him a Nice Surprise”

If there’s one team that tends to stand out, one simply can’t point toward any other team but Scuderia Ferrari. The most successful team in Formula 1 has always managed to do something different and receive an appraisal for the same. On one such day, the Maranello-based team decided to unveil their new car in front of a live audience and it was done. There she was, the bright SF-23 came out in front of a packed audience in Maranello, much to the delight of the Tifosi, and of course, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. As the team and drivers get ready for the battle up ahead, Sainz already threw his challenge to the defending champions Red Bull and Max Verstappen.

Verstappen with RB-19 will be the team to beat in 2023 as the duo has been absolutely indomitable in the last two seasons. With this in mind, Sainz threw off his challenge to the Dutch lion, who initially didn’t recognize Ferrari’s challenge and favored Mercedes. Talking about this, the Spanish driver told Sky Sports 24, “Verstappen said he will fight with Mercedes? Better, so we can give him a nice surprise. In my opinion, he was also in the audience, dressed in red, peeking”

The Ferrari driver went on, “It’s definitely also his way of putting pressure, and that’s normal. In the end, only the track and the stopwatch count. Red Bull and Mercedes are the most developed, we have to be humble and respect them. But if we concentrate on taking those three or four steps forward, there will be an opportunity.”

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As the car was unveiled, Sainz and Leclerc took their chances with the SF-23 in Maranello. After a rather disappointing 2022 F1 season, it’s high time Ferrari makes a comeback amid high expectations from fans all over the world.

Max Verstappen defies Ferrari to hold Mercedes as a contender

During Red Bull’s livery launch in New York on February 4, Max Verstappen was asked about the potential rivals he and Red Bull could face in 2023. Verstappen, to answer the question, defied Ferrari and chose to side with Mercedes as the team to beat.

As per Formula Passion, the Dutch lion said to the media, “Mercedes? Difficult to define their perspectives. At the end of last year, sometimes they seemed to have come to terms with their problems, sometimes not. I’m not part of their team, so I can’t say. But surely he [it] will be our main rival. In the past years, they have always shown that they are strong and have a very good group of people.”

Verstappen continued, “I believe in our technicians, who are capable of building a good car and we will have a strong package to oppose them. The two-time world champion also joked about Ferrari. He said, ,”He [It] may be strong, but how strong? Hard to tell.” [Translated using Google]

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As the stage of unveiling the challengers is almost over, it’s time for the cars to hit the track for testing in Bahrain. It’ll be interesting to see who comes on top this year as the season begins. Red Bull? Mercedes? or Ferrari? Only time will tell.