Double Champion Max Verstappen Receives a Much Needed Reality Check After Record Breaking Season: “To Be Honest, I Do Think…”

Max Verstappen dominated the track in 2022 with a whopping 15 race wins. A championship sealed with 4 races to spare just reflects how supreme Max and his RB18 were. Though what does such a performance do to a sportsman mentally? Max’s father, Jos Verstappen, spoke about how the Red Bull driver is done with everything for now.

After a grueling season, with not just racing but media duties and travel too, Max Verstappen is looking to take things easy for the time being. Talking to Viaplay, Jos Verstappen spoke about how his son is looking to take his mind off racing for now.

Jos said, “He’s [Max] just a bit done with everything now. Especially when you have won the championship, then the pressure is off and it becomes less exciting. For Max, I think it was just important that he broke that [most wins in a season] record with those [15] wins. I think that’s the most important thing.”

The Red Bull driver won 9 out of the 11 races in the 2nd half of the season. While Verstappen showed the strength of the RB18, he sealed the driver’s championship in Japan. Despite the convincing win this year, Max will expect a closer fight got the 2023 championship.

On this Verstappen Sr. said, “To be honest, I do think it will all be a bit closer next year – that is also the intention of these regulations. I don’t mind. Good battles on track and a good championship until the end would be fantastic.”

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Fans loved a titanic and nail-biting title battle in 2021 between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. Both the protagonists thrived in the championship fight till the season finale and set up an amazing climax. Max would be hoping for a similar challenge next year.

Can anyone challenge the supremacy of Max Verstappen in 2023?

The assertive performance Max Verstappen has showcased this season will be hard to beat, for whoever turns up as a challenger. There are a few probable contenders who might challenge the Dutchman for the 2023 championship.

The first ones have to be the Ferrari boys – Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. A 2022 campaign that fell off the rails as the season went deep, is an improvement alert for Ferrari. Though if they can sort their issues out, Leclerc and Sainz might be in the top spot to fight Verstappen once again.

Coming to Mercedes, it will be hard to make a case for Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, given how their 2022 season was. Yet, if their season-ending pace and the 1-2 finish in Brazil are considered, we might see a Mercedes v Red Bull battle again.

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Meanwhile, there will be the question of Sergio Perez again. Whether he can raise his performance and challenge Max wheel-to-wheel. He has the same car as the Dutchman. It will just be about raising his game for a championship challenge.

What do you think? Who amongst Hamilton, Russell, Leclerc, Sainz, or Perez can fight Verstappen for the 2023 title?