Since 2014, the F1 community has been abuzz with the name Max Verstappen. The Dutchman committed to Red Bull’s sister team, Toro Rosso, in August 2014, and debuted on the F1 circuits in 2015. At the time, the 17-year-old received harsh criticism from many to debut at such a young age. But as time passed on, people witnessed the brilliance of the young gun called Max. One of the critics was Mika Hakkinen, a two-time champion, who wasn’t afraid to find fault with young Verstappen joining F1. But now, he accepts his premature assessment of the 35-time Grand Prix winner, Max Verstappen, to be wrong.

When Red Bull first suggested bringing Max Verstappen in as the starting driver, he hadn’t even reached adulthood. For the majority, someone making their debut at age 17 was a terrible idea, but Red Bull’s management believed that the Dutchman was too talented to be on the sidelines. Mika Hakkinen was in the same group of people who thought that the kid who isn’t even allowed to drive on a road shouldn’t face the fast cars on the F1 circuits. Talking to BBC Sport, he said, “It’s too young because in F1, the risk is high.”

Verstappen ultimately dispelled all the skepticism by being the youngest race winner in F1, and Hakkinen, in 2016, accepted that he was incorrect.

Speaking at a gathering in Assen, Hakkinen said, “I criticized him personally when he was entering Formula 1, thinking he was too young. But I was really happy I was wrong, and it has strengthened my understanding that young girls and young boys they are much more ready in this world.”

“You have to let them speak, you have listen what they have to say. Max, obviously, it’s great what he has been doing.”

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Mika Hakkinen, who, a few years ago, made some extremely severe criticisms of Max Verstappen, has now revealed who, in his opinion, can be the next world champion.

Following Max Verstappen’s career forecast, Mika Hakkinen predicts the next possible world champion

Mercedes had a lackluster showing this past year for a variety of reasons. But the Mercedes prodigy George Russell‘s performance was one thing that worked in their favor. There have been numerous talks that George Russell has the potential to win the title due to the manner he has performed, eclipsing the great Lewis Hamilton.

Hakkinen shares this viewpoint as well and the two-time champion claimed in an interview with Top Gear Magazine, “Because Lewis is incredible. Incredible personality, incredible driver. So if George can go for it, then I think England can look like ‘Wow, what a driver we have.”

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Finally, he added, ” The list is unbelievably long when you start fine-tuning every aspect of being a racing driver. But he has already a massively long career behind him. Talking about karting, all those other categories, and his knowledge of data, his capabilities handling the car in extreme situations… I am confident he has all the potential to be a great driver, potentially becoming a World Champion.”

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Verstappen, who has now won 35 Grand Prix races, is getting close to the top five drivers with the most wins. He can very well surpass Ayrton Senna’s 41 victories this coming season. Given the Dutchman’s inherent talent, anyone can wager that he will finish in the top three by the conclusion of his career.