F1 champion makes huge Verstappen 'pressure' claim ahead of 2024 season
F1 champion makes huge Verstappen 'pressure' claim ahead of 2024 season
Formula 1 legend Mika Hakkinen has claimed that Max Verstappen will feel the pressure from McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri during the 2024 season.
Verstappen made it three successive F1 titles in 2023 during a season that saw him win all but three races in a dominant year for Red Bull.
The Dutchman will now be looking to replicate Sebastian Vettel's achievement from 2010 to 2013 as he eyes up a fourth drivers' championship in a row.
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Many are expecting the 26-year-old to romp home to victory once again this year, but Hakkinen – who won the 1998 and 1999 drivers' championships with McLaren – is backing Piastri and Norris to make life difficult for the Red Bull star.
Hakkinen: Verstappen will feel the pressure this year
"I expect a lot from McLaren," he told German outlet BILD.
"After having a disastrous start to the season last year, they have developed very well and, above all, consistently.
"With Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, they probably have the strongest driver pairing next to Ferrari.
"Not yet!" Hakkinen joked when asked if Norris and Piastri were better than his pairing with David Coulthard from 1996 to 2001. "But both have the potential to become world champions.
"Piastri puts pressure on Norris. And Verstappen will also feel that this year."
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F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
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