F1 2023 season preview as Max Verstappen looks to defend title

Max Verstappen took one step closer to his third successive F1 title on Sunday as he recorded his eleventh victory of the season at the Dutch Grand Prix. The 25-year-old finds himself a staggering 138 points clear of his nearest competitor and team-mate Sergio Perez in the driver’s standings.

Meanwhile, Red Bull are streaming even further ahead in the constructor standings with the title looking all but sealed with nine races still to go. However, Verstappen hasn’t allowed the success to get to his head and humbly admitted that his dominance has a lot to do with him driving the “best car” on the grid.

“Of course, everyone can see and I also know that we have the best car,” he told Sky Sports. “But some weekends go a bit better than others for all different kinds of reasons but I think so far when I look at myself for every single race weekend, I’m very happy with the performance.

“I mean, how much is related to the driver, and how much is related to the car? I know that a lot is related to the car, that’s how Formula One works, but I can’t be unhappy with my performances.”

The Dutchman also refuses to place himself in a different category from his competitors despite his supremacy in the sport. “I always want to believe of course that I’m the best driver out there but I know there are a lot of other good drivers out there,” he added.

When asked to name names, he replied: “It’s very hard to say, I mean all of the young guys who came in to F1. At the end of the day it’s not only about being quick or doing fast lap times, there’s a lot more that comes into play when you’re fighting for a championship.

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“When you are constantly under pressure, or having to deliver and being consistent, you cannot afford mistakes when it’s a very high level. It’s a whole different game and I come to learn that in the last few years.

“So it’s not always about being the best driver, it’s about how to handle all these things together with the pressure around.”

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