Since the 2021 title showdown, Max Verstappen has emerged as a phenomenon in Formula 1. The starting of the ground-effect era last year brought out the best in him as Red Bull began its dominant run. The partnership turned out to be a force to reckon with as the Dutchman accumulated a record 15 race wins over the year. That near-perfect run from last year has continued in 2023 as the defending champion won 2 out of three races. The unprecedented feat has left the sister team’s boss in awe, who put him on the same list of greats that rival Lewis Hamilton is a part of.

Following the end of the 2022 campaign, Nico Rosberg did a detailed wrap-up video on the season. The former champ showered praise on the reigning champion but felt it was too early to count him among the likes of Senna, Schumacher, and Hamilton. AlphaTauri team principal Franz Tost, however, believes Verstappen has already made it there, owing to a unique quality.

In a recent interview with Speedweek, Tost said, “With all his talent and extreme driving skills, he also has the necessary mental strength. He has everything a champion needs, just like Fangio, Senna, Prost, Schumacher, Vettel, and Hamilton. Apart from the talent and sense of cornering speed, they all have one thing in common: the total focus on the sport and the selfishness to stand up for themselves, which includes annoying a team. A driver who never complains is soon forgotten.” [Translated using Google]

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In the interview, Franz also talked about Yuki Tsunoda’s prospects of joining Max at Red Bull in the future. The Japanese pocket-sized rocket is currently playing the role of the senior driver at AlphaTauri ever since Pierre Gasly’s departure.

Will Yuki Tsunoda hold his ground against Max Verstappen at Red Bull?

AlphaTauri, formerly Toro Rosso, has always acted as the testing ground for Red Bull. The Austrian team fields young promising talents in the sister team, giving them enough exposure before promoting them to the senior team. Max made it in Red Bull through this system. And if everything goes well, one day, Tsunoda too could get there. Franz Tost feels like Yuki has it in him to make it there. However, he feels Max is too good of a driver for him to beat.

He told, “Besides Max, everyone will be number two. He is the fastest and best driver at the moment. If you then come second, you have already won, at least in terms of experience.”

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Tost credited Verstappen’s upbringing at the hands of motor racer parents for his on-track prowess. That is something that many experts believe had a major role in making him where he is today.