EXCLUSIVE: F1 champion insists Red Bull NOT responsible for 2023 success
EXCLUSIVE: F1 champion insists Red Bull NOT responsible for 2023 success
Max Verstappen already looks set to add another championship title to the three crowns he has, and that's thanks to the level of driving the Dutchman achieves - not Red Bull's car - according to Jacques Villeneuve.
Speaking exclusively to GPFans, the 1997 world champion explained that although the title-winning RB19 was an impressive machine, Verstappen made all the difference.
READ MORE: Verstappen backs father as Red Bull F1 fractures DEEPEN
"Even though they won almost every race," begins Villeneuve, "It was by a small margin.
"They didn't have a two-second lead. They didn't have the gap we had in '96 with Williams.
"They didn't have the gap that McLaren had in '98 when just disappeared in the distance.
"Verstappen made the difference last year, not Red Bull."
Why Verstappen is No.1
The question the F1 world is asking is whether that performance level will increase in 2024.
It's something that Villeneuve finds hard to believe considering how incredible the Dutch driver has been in his years of domination. The Canadian added: "It would be difficult to better Verstappen, you know?"
"Right now, it's hard to imagine him going faster and being on top form every race like he's doing now.
"I can't imagine a better Verstappen than what we've had the last two years.
"It's really difficult to imagine."
READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE: Mercedes pushing Russell, NOT Hamilton insists F1 champion
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F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
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- 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
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- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
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GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
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