Former F1 boss hints Sebastian Vettel FASTER than Max Verstappen

Sebastian Vettel celebrates as Max Verstappen looks on — Photo: © LAT Images

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Former F1 boss hints Vettel FASTER than Verstappen

The four-time world champion has been tipped to hold a surprise edge

Sam Cook Digital Journalist

Sports Journalist who has been covering motorsport since 2023

Monday 4 December 2023 08:27 Updated: 11:59

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Former AlphaTauri team principal Franz Tost believes a prime Sebastian Vettel could win more races than Max Verstappen if he battled him in equal machinery.

The Formula 1 legend recently left his post with the Faenza-based team after guiding them from their inception in the sport in 2006 all the way through to the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

During his time at the helm of Red Bull's sister team, he developed the careers of several drivers including Vettel, Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo and Carlos Sainz.

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Vettel claimed AlphaTauri's, then known as Toro Rosso, first victory in the sport at the 2008 Italian Grand Prix, before going on to win four world championship titles with Red Bull.

Verstappen, on the other hand, has recently overtaken Vettel on the all-time list of race winners at the age of just 26, but has one fewer world title to his name.

Sebastian Vettel won four world championships in a row at Red Bull

Max Verstappen cruised to his third consecutive world championship title in 2023

The reigning world champion recently broke Sebastian Vettel's record of nine consecutive race victories

Vettel on top?

While Vettel retired in 2022, Tost was asked to name his dream team of drivers from across the eras on the Beyond the Grid podcast.

"Vettel and Max - because of their dedication to the sport and their speed," Tost said.

"They know how to win races and they also bring all the factors with them, what you need to win races.

"This is, first of all, the talent. You must be highly skilled for driving such a car. Second, the passion. Both of them are very passionate.

"Look at Max, he is driving this e-car series and all this kind of stuff. Isn't this fantastic? A three-time Formula 1 world champion and at home he is racing against others on the computer.

Franz Tost stepped away from his role at AlphaTauri at the end of the season

"Then they are disciplined. They know exactly when and what they have to do.

"The discipline is a very, very important factor, and then to study the rivals, to find out where are the deficiencies and to work on this to beat them.

"These are the factors both of these drivers have, 100 per cent."

Asked who would win the qualifying head-to-head between the pair, Tost replied: "Verstappen."

However, when quizzed on which driver would win more grands prix, he said: "Could be Sebastian."

Red Bull Max Verstappen Formula 1 Sebastian Vettel AlphaTauri Franz Tost