Max Verstappen, the alien: the man who should become world champion

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In fact, Formula 1 superstar Max Verstappen (26) could have spent weeks with his Brazilian girlfriend Kelly (35) on Copacabana, drinking champagne and with their feet up. But for the Dutch, records are more important than the sun. In addition to his often flawless performances, Verstappen also owes his comfortable position to his teammate Sergio Pérez (33), who often drives underground. The Mexican is simply overwhelmed at Red Bull. Fortunately, he still has a contract for 2024.

“My mission is accomplished!”

Verstappen, who often wants hotter duels on the track: “I take what I can take with me. Even though my mission in Formula 1 has long been fulfilled with my first world title.” And so his Grand Prix mission since 2015 will probably continue on Saturday in the sprint race from 7:30 PM (live on Blick in the ticker) with the third World Cup crown.

$50 million for a lot of risk

And you shouldn’t forget: Verstappen once signed with Red Bull until the end of 2028. There is also another $50 million (bad estimate) annually as pure wages. Comparisons with the often better-paid superstars in the NFL, NBA, golf or tennis are flawed. In Formula 1, the big risk should be rewarded even richer! Even though fatal accidents involving general practitioners have become increasingly rare since Ayrton Senna (1994) or Jules Bianchi (2015).

Sir Lewis – Max’s neighbor

In the past, Sir Lewis Hamilton’s winning streak (38, six titles with Mercedes alone) was often compared to a driver from another planet. Now this alien place has a second resident: Max Verstappen.

And somewhere up there, Senna, Juan Manuel Fangio and Jimmy Clark are probably looking down too. The debate about the greatest racer of all time will never end. Even though GP veteran Bernie Ecclestone (soon to be 93) “Verstappen has now replaced Alain Prost at the top”.

“Doesn’t want to become an athlete in 2023”

Verstappen does not care about these arguments. “I don’t want to be Athlete of the Year in the Netherlands this year either. How can you compare our sport with others? There are other athletes who train perhaps twice as much as I do, celebrate great successes and are not in the spotlight like I am!”

Words you wouldn’t expect from the former rough and perpetually cursed Super-Max.

First World Cup title with an aftertaste

It does not matter whether the 48-time GP winner in 179 races becomes champion today or not (Pérez must win and then sixth place is enough for Verstappen). Max knows there will always be a flaw in his first title in 2021 in Abu Dhabi when the scandal ends. The same applies to Michael Schumacher’s (54) first world title in 1994 in Adelaide, in the crash final against Damon Hill.

But that’s it: super champions show no mercy and have luck on their side.

Source : Blick