Max Verstappen: Matter of time before Dutchman is a champion, says Mario Andretti

Max Verstappen

Andretti: Matter of time before Verstappen is a champion

Plus he expects Red Bull to challenge for the title in 2019

Martin Macdonald

Saturday 7 March 2020 13:00

Former F1 world champion Mario Andretti reckons it’s a matter of time before Max Verstappen follows in his steps to win his first title.

The Dutchman is recognised as one of the most talented young drivers to come through the ranks in years, and enjoyed the best season of his career in 2019 after winning three races in Austria, Germany, and Brazil and gaining his first pole position in Hungary.

He has been tipped by many fans and pundits to be a sure-fire future world champion, and Andretti agrees.

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"I was a fan from the start with how Max approaches racing," the 1978 world champion told Motorsport.com.

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"He's shown to have exceptional quality. Talents like him are very rare. He's absolutely a potential world champion, there's no doubt about that. It's not a matter of if but when he'll be champion. If the Red Bull car is good enough, he'll take care of the rest.

"It's fun to watch him. You usually see in the rain whether someone has special talents. In wet races a driver's talent is best seen. And he thrives in those moments.

"As I said, I love how his approach. It's only about racing for him."

As for the upcoming 2019 season, Andretti believes Red Bull have what it takes to challenge Ferrari and Mercedes for the constructors’ title.

"Looking at the quality they have at Red Bull and the winning mentality - they've been champions in the past and they're determined to be champions again - they'll fight Mercedes and Ferrari," he predicted.

Red Bull are four-time champions, having won four in a row between 2010 and 2013, all via Sebastiaan Vettel.