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ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – DECEMBER 12: Race winner and 2021 F1 World Drivers Champion Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing celebrates with Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 12, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
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ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – DECEMBER 12: Race winner and 2021 F1 World Drivers Champion Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing celebrates with Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 12, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
Only one word can do justice to what Max Verstappen has been ever since he made his debut in Formula 1 – sensational. However, his boss Christian Horner has an anecdote to share that exemplifies what made Max Verstappen the right choice for Red Bull.
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Max Verstappen joined Red Bull in 2016. He was promoted to the senior team after a year-long stint with Torro Rosso. However, he made his debut with Red Bull in Spain in the most Verstappen-esque way possible. He won! But Horner knew what Verstappen was capable of long before his debut win at Barcelona.
According to Horner, “What stood out was Spa, when he drove round the outside of Felipe Nasr.” He went on to explain, “I thought: ‘This boy is properly brave, committed and quick.’ You saw it that season, he was a shining star. It was evident immediately he was a prodigious talent.”.
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Christian Horner may have had an inside line into Verstappen‘s talents. However, he was also very articulate about why he believes Verstappen to be a great World Champion.
Christian Horner proclaims Max Verstappen “doesn’t crave adulation” and only “loves racing”
Max Verstappen is on the verge of becoming a double-World Champion at Suzuka this Sunday. However, according to his boss at Red Bull, the Dutch Lion is above all the fame and adulation that comes along with being such a revered icon of the sport.
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ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – DECEMBER 12: Race winner and 2021 F1 World Drivers Champion Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing celebrates on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 12, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Kamran Jebreili – Pool/Getty Images)
He began by stating, “He hasn’t changed despite all the adulation he is receiving.”. He then went on to emphasise on why he thinks Verstappen is a great racer but also a great champion. “You often see personalities change, they become divas. Max is fundamentally the same lad that turned up six years ago, I don’t think he will ever change. He is at ease with himself. He doesn’t crave adulation, he loves his racing. He is fundamentally just a racer.”.
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Will Max Verstappen go down in the annals of Formula 1 history as the greatest World Champion ever?
Written by
Edited by
Ankit Sharma