VETTEL: “THE FAVORITE IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP BATTLE IS CLEARLY VERSTAPPEN”
Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel has chosen his favorite for the Formula 1 championship battle.
Sebastian Vettel stated that Max Verstappen, despite not having the fastest car this season, will become the Formula 1 champion by overtaking Lando Norris. Verstappen holds a 47-point lead in the drivers’ championship ahead of the sprint race at the Brazilian Grand Prix, but he faces significant pressure due to McLaren and Ferrari potentially outpacing Red Bull in the 2024 season.
Despite the speed difference between Red Bull and McLaren, Vettel believes the advantage still lies with Verstappen. He thinks Verstappen’s confidence behind the wheel, along with Ferrari starting to challenge Norris, could be decisive in how the championship battle unfolds.
In an interview with Sky Germany, Vettel said: “Although I would love to see an exciting race until the end, I believe Max is now so solid and so confident in his driving that… we rarely see mistakes from him.”
“Even though his car is not as powerful as it was at the beginning of the year, I still see him as the favorite. I think he is always strong enough to collect enough points. Lando is also no longer in a position to easily win every race.”
“In my opinion, it is clear who the favorite is, and that person is Max. However, as an independent viewer, I certainly hope the race will be closer.”
The battle between Norris and Verstappen has intensified in recent races, leading to controversies during both the United States and Mexico Grands Prix. Verstappen’s desire to challenge Norris has prompted some to suggest that the British driver needs to be more aggressive, while McLaren insists it doesn’t want Norris to change his approach.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella stated: “Given the situation where Lando is in the championship battle, I can say he is handling it in a way that we enjoy. He is now a very mature driver.”
“His racing technique continues to evolve. His attitude and his ability to learn from each situation, which we can see almost on a race-by-race basis, are impressive. I believe Lando is now a mature driver capable of succeeding in this kind of battle against one of the best drivers in Formula 1 history.”
“We always tell Lando: ‘Let’s keep doing what we’re doing, let’s keep improving, and let’s be the best version of ourselves from one race to the next.’”
