“I Can Beat Everyone”: Max Verstappen Deflates Lewis Hamilton & Co.’s Resurgence Dream With Boastful Reality Check

When Helmut Marko fast-tracked Max Verstappen‘s journey to Formula 1, many considered the Dutchman to be too young for the sport. Born to an amazing racing legacy, it was destined for the No. 33 Driver to win world titles, but no one expected them to come so quickly and that too back-to-back! But Verstappen’s unwavering faith in himself goes back to his childhood, where he underwent a harsh training regiment with Jos Verstappen leading the charge.

It’s safe to say the blood, sweat, and tears have paid off for the 26-year-old, not only did he achieve his third title with an astonishing margin over Sergio Perez and Lewis Hamilton, but he’s broken more records this season than the number of podiums for some drivers. With the RB19’s dominance, of course, the Dutch Lion feels untouchable, but is there anyone who could pose a serious threat in the future?

Does Max Verstappen fear no one?

In an interview for Dutch Media, Max Verstappen was asked a question every F1 fan has been debating amongst themselves for ages, ‘Who in this paddock if they were to drive a Red Bull next to you, would be your biggest challenger?” – Seeing that Sergio Perez wasn’t putting up a challenge, the interviewer asked Verstappen to name his biggest threat on the entire grid.

The three-time champion took a diplomatic approach at first, complimenting each driver for their skills. He stated, “Well, I think generally there are a lot of good drivers. I just think what ultimately makes the difference, is how easily you can get close to perfection every weekend and that’s the difference between a top driver and someone who becomes world champion.”

It’s no secret that Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes have been struggling to hold their own against McLaren’s improvement and Red Bull’s everpresent dominance. The team that was once in Red Bull’s position is still paying for their 2022 mistakes with the zero-pod W13, falling victim to their lack of understanding of their challenger.

On the off-chance that Mercedes does have the set-up figured out, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell aren’t without their shortcomings, with the pair colliding at the Qatar GP which was looking to be their best result of the season. Which is Verstappen believes Red Bull holds the edge over the others, it’s all down to their consistency and reliability!

He pointed out that not everyone has had a chance in a top car like Hamilton for him to assess the situation for everyone, but it’s clear from his stance that Mercedes and other teams don’t just have to catch up in terms of pace, but also make sure they can hold onto that speed. “I think everyone in this paddock can beat each other, but to do it every weekend is a different story. And then it’s very difficult to choose who can do that because that person has to have had a chance in a top car.” And this is when the floodgates for Verstappen’s confidence after outright making the rest of the field look like Junior Formula drivers shined through, “But I do always assume I can beat everyone, that’s my thinking.”

READ MORE: How Much Will Max Verstappen Pay to Renew Super License for 2024 Season? Is It Highest Ever in F1 History?

It’s safe to say that having tons of confidence in yourself is a racing driver’s core characteristic. After all, in a world where there’s cut-throat competition, self-determination, and belief is all that matters. There are fans who often say that Fernando Alonso, who has a ton of belief in himself, could be a driver who could beat Verstappen’s supremacy. Although Peter Windsor differs for some logical reasons.

Peter Windsor echoes Verstappen’s confidence to shut down Fernando Alonso’s charge

Fernando Alonso is a man who has all those components that it takes for a driver to be a World Champion (he does have two titles already). With the Spaniard’s recent performances, fans have been excited at the prospect of Alonso beating Max Verstappen if Aston Martin can live up to Red Bull‘s 2024 challenger. However, he is no match for Verstappen’s dominance according to F1 Pundit and ex-Ferrari Technical Manager, Peter Windsor.

Windsor was quick to shut any hopes down, he shared with his subscribers during a YouTube Livestream, “Not only because of his age, but I don’t think he’s technically as good as Max over one lap and I don’t think therefore he would be able to make up in the race situation that difference, even if he is possibly a slightly better race driver than Max.” Windsor pointed out Verstappen’s robot-like precision when it comes to delivering exactly what the car requires.

The British journalist alluded to the same point as Max Verstappen about the consistency it takes to be a World Champion – after all, you need to remain focused throughout the entire year, rarely making mistakes. Even if Fernando Alonso was in the RB19, Windsor believes, “I can’t imagine that he wouldn’t beat him periodically, but over a season, and that’s what you mean by run for the money, I don’t think he would.” – with decades of experience surrounded by the sport, Windsor delivered a devastating blow to Alonso fans who are hoping to see the Spaniard outclass Verstappen to secure his third world title.

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However, let’s not forget that anything can happen in this sport, and just like Mercedes, Red Bull could find themselves in a ‘miserable’ situation, and Aston Martin will want to take advantage of that variable to bring glory to Fernando Alonso once again. Only time will tell if anyone can give Max Verstappen a run for their money.