3X Olympic Champ Wishes for Repeat of Max Verstappen’s 2021 Win to Revive F1’s Thrill

There has been a lot of talk lately about Formula 1 becoming dull and monotonous with Max Verstappen winning week in and week out in a Red Bull. However, just a couple of seasons ago, we had one of the most intense championship battles ever seen in the sport. The fact that both Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen entered the season finale in 2021 on equal points (369.5) and the race was decided on the last lap (ignoring the safety car shenanigans) is a testament to how neck and neck they were throughout the season. Dutch Speed Skater, Kjeld Nuis, has recently said that he wants the thrill of the 2021 season back in F1.

There’s no denying that Verstappen is dominating in the new ground effect era of Formula 1. With Red Bull hitting the nail on its head with the design of the car under current regulations, the Dutchman smashed all record books out of the park in 2023. A single driver winning 19 out of 22 races with a win percentage of 86 is unheard of in a sport as competitive as F1. However, it has left many, including the 3-time Olympic champion wanting more.

Kjeld Nuis wants the return of a 2021-style “sublime” Formula 1 season

The 34-year-old speed skating maestro from Team Reggeborgh has a passion for speed both on and off the ice. Not only has he broken speed records on the ice, reaching a remarkable 103 kilometers per hour, but he’s also had the thrill of riding with Jos Verstappen in a Pagani at the Red Bull Ring. Despite his love for speed skating, Nuis keeps a keen eye on Formula 1, though he admits he’s become more of an occasional viewer lately.

In a recent interview with Formule1 Magazine, Nuis reflected on his past season’s involvement with the sport.  “Well, to be honest, less intensive than in previous years. I understand Max Verstappen very well when he says that there is nothing as good as winning a race and dominating a season. That gives self-confidence. When I won the 1000 meters at the World Cup in Beijing in November with eight tenths, I really didn’t find it boring myself,” Nuis was quoted by formule1.nl.

“But for the average Formula 1 viewer, it’s cool if different people can win. For that reason, I have gone from being a regular viewer to an occasional viewer. I didn’t set the alarm once last year, something I sometimes did before. Secretly, I long for the excitement of 2021, when Max won his first world title on the last lap of the last race. That was sublime,“ the 3-time Olympic champion added.

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Whether there will be multiple teams fighting for wins in 2024 depends largely on the Red Bulls 2024 challenger. If they have more speed over the winter break they are more than likely to dominate for yet another season.

Max Verstappen downplays the repeat of 2023 with the mystery surrounding the new RB20

Red Bull revealed their new challenger on Thursday and took the F1 community by storm. While the livery was nothing we were excited about anyway, the design of the RB20 caught everyone by surprise. Adrian Newey has made significant changes from the RB19, particularly with the side pods, which now remind us of the failed Mercedes zero side pod concept. Some are speculating that Newey has perfected the zero pod design.

However, Max Verstappen believes that it will be very difficult to replicate what they had achieved last year. “I mean, of course, you try to have another season like that. I think it’s quite unrealistic,“ the Dutchman told ESPN UK. He hopes the team can at least remain competitive with the all-new RB20.

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Has Adrian Newey really fixed the issue with the Mercedes Zero pod design flaw? Will we see Red Bull moving closer and closer to that concept? Share your predictions in the comments down below.