Sebastian Vettel says the secret to Max Verstappen remaining a factor in the drivers’ championship is his ability to perform in high-pressure situations and make few mistakes.
Verstappen won at Las Vegas with both McLaren drivers disqualified and arrived at the Qatar Grand Prix within race victory with the lead in the drivers’ championship. The Dutchman was more than 100 points behind then-leader Oscar Piastri just seven races ago, but Vettel believes a central element of Verstappen’s fightback is his ability to maximize his performance wherever possible.
Vettel: “I think the scary thing is that he’s getting better.” (Top left of photo, with Verstappen) tOld F1 Beyond the Grid podcast. “We know he’s good, but he’s still improving, still has a hungry spirit, still has a desire to learn. I think he works very hard behind the scenes as well, and that’s what makes him so strong.”
“Obviously, on top of that, I think he’s blessed with a lot of talent, but even though he’s one of the most talented drivers on the grid, ultimately what makes him so strong, I think it’s always a combination, but the key element is his head.”
“In important situations, he puts his head down, makes very few mistakes and gets the result when he needs it. We all feel pressure, I don’t think it’s possible not to feel pressure, but when he can put it aside and focus on what’s important, he can find space in his head.”
Vettel believes the Red Bull driver will be the most relaxed of the three title contenders heading into the final two races of the season, given Verstappen’s track record and a fourth straight victory on the horizon.
“Right now, yeah (he’s probably not feeling the pressure anymore),” Vettel said before the gap narrowed further in Las Vegas. “Also, because he won a championship. Not many people have won that many championships, but I’ve been lucky to have won a few championships. And I think the biggest relief for me was the first win. It’s a little bit like the first win, where you’re like, ‘Wow, I can do this,’ and obviously after that first win, you want to win a championship more than ever.”
“So he doesn’t have to prove to himself that he can win a championship. And in the position he’s in right now, in the hunt, he’s like, ‘OK, everything has to be perfect, and if it works, it works, and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t work.’
