HomeFormula 1Max Verstappen and the significance of Qatar GP 2023

Max Verstappen and the significance of Qatar GP 2023

- Advertisement -

Max Verstappen has made the sport just about as special as it was during Michael Schumacher’s time. 

Yes and no. 

- Advertisement -

Max Verstappen has fought off successfully the massive challenge posed by Sir Lewis Hamilton, archrival to the Dutchman and truth be told, the only driver who looked certain to curb the Red Bull’s fiery run.

Absolutely. 

Max Verstappen has proven that regardless of the sometimes improving and the usually sandbagging Ferrari, victories this year only belong to Red Bull; Singapore’s outcome, of course, be damned.

Truly.

If you look at the Verstappen level of domination, you’d find that single word answers or, at the most, two word responses seem the only way possible to pass judgment on a remarkable career that’s taking shape.

To some, he’s a great of the sport. He actually is; regardless of what anyone says, to have 48 wins under your belt is no joke. Kimi, Jenson and Felipe have together accounted for 49 wins.

That’s when Verstappen, with one more, will be matching the tally of three amazing drivers, two of the world champions, jointly accounted for.

To many others, the 26-year-old son of a Former Formula 1 driver is a product of a fast car and a well-oiled machinery that functions of superior engineering and the master craft of a genie called Adrian Newey.

In the course of being on the grid and racing, not merely driving, for nearly eight consecutive seasons, Max Verstappen hasn’t only fought drivers on the grid; but critics off it.

He has won, lost, crashed, driven poorly, at times, rashly and on several other occasions with nothing held back.

He’s led Red Bull from the front, become the blue-eyed boy of a man who doesn’t see anything too special in F1 beyond the navy blue colour and risen to become a giant in the works.

He’s proven too hard for his own teammate to beat, dismantled the Ferraris and eaten up Mercedes on his own.

Just hours away from capturing his third world title, Max Verstappen in 2023 has perhaps risen in stature as a modern day great of the sport, albeit a complicated one.

Fiery and fast, borderline tempestuous, and unquestionably bold, Verstappen has ‘Max’imised his opportunities at winning, setting a record breaking streak of 10 wins on the trot.

A feat like that, hitherto unseen in the F1 world, earned Verstappen appreciation from Vettel, a Red Bull hero and F1 great, and saw the current sensation of the sport beat the record of Ascari and Schumacher.

The trouble with Max, at times, is that he pushes to the limit, which is also the criticism leveled against him.

Not the safest driver to go wheel-to-wheel against and that’s a fact. But the thrill about Verstappen is also that he would be absolutely banal, dreary even if he weren’t this adventurous racer determined to risk everything in the pursuit of victory.

With 30 pole positions to his name already and not to forget, 92 podiums, Verstappen has clearly blazed a trail for many to follow.

And usually he leads and they follow. Well, that’s how the story of the last two seasons has been where combining skill and daring with a sense of ruthlessness, the Red Bull driver has bulldozed the rest of the field.

Another victory lays on the cards as the Belgium-born Dutch driver, a winner at Hungary, a champion of Spa, a performer at Zandvoort will hit the Losail in his RB 19.

The only question, however, now is whether anyone from the Mercedes or Aston Martin camp can stop him?

Hamilton can, and has, in the past. Alonso, the supreme leader, the Samurai among the Ninjas’ much younger to him, hasn’t really succeeded.

But does that mean anyone else can’t?

Again, what can one say about a man who elicits polarising results- often too hot to handle and on other times, reactions dawning in sheer awe?

Let the race begin.

- Advertisement -
Dev Tyagi
Dev Tyagi
Dravid believer, admirer of - the square drive, Drew Barrymore, Germany, Finland, Electric Mobility, simplicity and the power of the written word! Absolutely admire contributing to KyroSports

15 Highly Educated Cricketers Of All Time

Cricket is a game of passion and dedication. A sport in which one involves themselves in camps and practice since early childhood. Due to...

Why are more and more MotoGP riders using the Noson nasal dilator?

Introduction MotoGP riders or athletes are physically fit and healthy individuals and their muscles are continuously functioning and used during the performance. As a fan...

Do we often under-appreciate Andy Flower? What’s his legacy?

There's a hint of sadness in noting that Zimbabwe has never been a dominant power in world cricket. But nothing could be sadder than...

How Come UFC Fighters Have Cauliflower Ears But Boxers Don’t?

The UFC has come a long way since its early days, wherein the fights seemed like modern-day gladiators due to its brutality and inconsistent...

5 spinners who can be India’s potential finger-spinners

The Indian cricket team has always been proud of its ability to produce world-class batsmen and similarly potent spinners. Though in recent times, the...

IPL 2018: The beautiful Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur

Being seated in the Sawai Mansingh stadium brings a different world, a world of difference away from the palpable excitement of watching truly India’s...

Top 5 Left Wingers In The World, Based On 2019-20 Season

Owing to the fact that football has evolved a lot since its inception and the tactics have changed a lot, the role of wingers...

The astonishing decline of Mario Balotelli

There was a time when Mario Balotelli was on top of the world.  The Italian talisman had scored two goals in the Euro 2012 semi-finals,...

What can be expected from the 2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix?

Heat in the air and heat inside the car- that's been the story of the Azerbaijan Grand prix. As F1 parks itself at Baku...

How Suresh Raina Batted India Into The Finals of 2011 World Cup

Its been 9 years, since India won the Cricket World Cup defeating Sri Lanka on 2 April, 2011. The images and visuals of...

Ajax XI if they didn’t sell their star players

Based in Amsterdam, AFC Ajax, who incidentally draw their name from the legendary Greek hero of the same name, are the most successful club...

IPL 2018: The best from the West Indies

When one of nature's treacherous attacks on mankind- earthquakes- strike, their impact is measured on Richter's scale. When West Indians strike in a tournament...

Age Fraud in Indian Cricket: Are players really to be blamed?

There have been times while watching a cricket match when we tend to hear commentators comment on cricketers’ age. We as fans have many...

5 famous players to play for both Leeds United and Liverpool

Leeds United are back in the Premier League after 16 years and will play Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday in their very first match...

Big change for India Women’s cricket as BCCI looks to finalise bowling coach soon

We are not even at the halfway stage of the 2018 cricketing season. It clearly seems there's no stopping India's women's cricket team. The...

- Advertisement -

- Advertisement -