Formula 1 has witnessed a period of sheer dominance by Lewis Hamilton since the inception of the turbo-hybrid era. However, it all changed in 2021 as Max Verstappen pipped the seven-time world champion to the crown in a highly debated race conclusion. Although last moment decisions from the racing committee inadvertently helped the Dutchman, it does not change the fact that he had a dominant season through and through.
Red Bull started off the last decade as the most dominant team, winning 4 titles in a row. But after the overhaul in F1 rules, Mercedes took over the scene completely, as many would say, they became invincible. Verstappen took upon this arduous task to re-ignite the old rivalry and came out victorious in the end.
In a recent interview with the Guardian, Verstappen discussed various aspects of the controversial season. First and foremost, he doesn’t believe the controversy surrounding the final lap in Abu Dhabi has tarnished his title. Moreover, the Red Bull star says he cannot sympathize with Lewis Hamilton for missing out on his 8th title citing his previous success.
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Max Verstappen doesn’t harbor ambitions to equal Hamilton’s records
Lewis Hamilton stands at the zenith of all the Formula 1 records, signs of which started coming in his rookie season. Statistically the greatest ever, Hamilton is still gunning for his record 8th championship. This time, Max Verstappen came in his way to surpass the great Michael Schumacher.
As far as equalling Hamilton in terms of wins and championships, it is still a long for the young Dutchman. The two have a 13-year gap and are from totally different generations of drivers. While talking to the Guardian, Verstappen brushed off any pressure to reach 7 or 8 championship wins. Moreover, he believes dominating the scene for such a long time is not a piece of cake.
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“Not really. If I never get to a No 7 or No 8, it’s fine. You need a lot of luck to be in such a dominant position for such a long time. I just want to enjoy it and I know that, when I get to the track, I still want to win,” said the Dutchman.
A first glimpse of the #️⃣1️⃣ #F1 pic.twitter.com/4btNtAhFUQ
— Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) February 6, 2022
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Fans are waiting to see Max Verstappen take the wheel of the all-new RB18 during the pre-season testing scheduled later this month. The Milton Keynes team will release their new car on Wednesday afternoon. Tell us how excited you are to witness another chapter of this epic rivalry starting in Bahrain on the 20th of March.
Read More- F1 Welcomes Back Lewis Hamilton With Open Arms as Fans Get Hyped for 8th Title