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Mark Webber has shared his opinion on Max Verstappen and the dominance of the Dutchman this season. The Australian feels that Verstappen deserves “credit where it’s due” for his winning streak and gives his say on what he thinks can hinder Verstappen.
Max Verstappen came into 2023 with two world titles under his belt. Now, halfway through the 2023 season, the Red Bull Racing driver is leading the championship, 125 points ahead of his teammate.
Out of the 13 rounds so far, after the cancellation of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, Verstappen has won all but two of the races. His latest victory was at Spa for the Belgian Grand Prix.
Now, with just under two weeks of the summer break left, Verstappen is set to equal a record, currently held by Sebastian Vettel. The next race is at Zandvoort, which is Verstappen’s home Grand Prix.
If he were to win at the Dutch circuit, Verstappen would then have nine consecutive race wins, equalling that of Vettel.
Mark Webber, who raced for Red Bull in his F1 career, has now given his views on Verstappen’s dominance and the record the two-time world champion could equal next weekend.
Nothing but praise for Verstappen
When speaking to Formula1.com, Webber praised Verstappen and his level of performance this season that puts him above the rest of the field. The former F1 driver said:
“I think it’s really hard for people to understand this level of domination, how much work and effort goes into it.
“That’s the big thing, you’ve got to give credit, people have to give credit where it’s due.
“To get that level of advantage with the depth of competition in F1… There’s so many, so many opportunities to make mistakes; whether it’s pit stops, reliability, presentation of the car, driver errors, but it’s just been a run for the ages.
“And obviously [McLaren in] 1988 was the last time it happened.”
In 1988, McLaren had a run of 11 successive wins. However, Red Bull broke that record at the weekend of the Hungarian Grand Prix as they achieved 12 successive wins.
?️ "We could never have dreamt of getting to summer break unbeaten, that’s never been achieved before." pic.twitter.com/nbUbF4WrzG
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) August 1, 2023
Reliability woes are the only way
After touching on Verstappen’s dominance, Webber admitted what he thinks to be the only way for Verstappen to be unable to equal Vettel’s record. The Australian said:
“It’s only reliability [problems] that will stop it, I think.
“I think the world would like to see him win his home race [at Zandvoort]. To do the business there would be extraordinary. He should win that one and then he’s equal.”
Webber also spoke about how he feels Verstappen and Red Bull’s dominance will continue in the second half of the season. So far, there have been other teams standing on the podium including the likes of Mercedes, Aston Martin, and even Alpine. But no other team has been able to reach that top step quite yet and Webber doesn’t think anyone will.
“He’s [Verstappen] the one out there executing. He’s dancing when the curtains go back and he goes out on stage and does it.
“We know the level of intensity he brings – he’s top drawer. For the opposition, of course, he’s now well-established in his career, he’s got an immense amount of experience.
“He’s going to enjoy the break, he’s going to come back refreshed. And I think because there’s even no pressure on him, it’s even more of an advantage for him.”
With Verstappen so far ahead and Red Bull 256 points clear of Mercedes, who are in P2, it’s looking like Red Bull and the defending world champion will take the titles this year. But there are still 10 more rounds to go.
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