Former GP driver Hans-Joachim Stuck explains what makes Red Bull Racing star Max Verstappen so strong and why Ferrari cannot yet be written off despite the large championship deficit.
With his 80 championship points lead, which Max Verstappen has over Charles Leclerc, his closest rival, the Formula 1 champion is well on his way to defending his title. The Red Bull Racing star is in top form, he won the most recent showdown in Hungary from 10th on the grid.
For the racing legend Hans-Joachim Stuck, the Dutchman is already one of the best drivers of all time. In the “Eurosport.de” interview, he says regarding the 24-year-old: “Max has a quality that Senna also mastered exceptionally. He is the driver who brakes the latest. There is currently no one who can hold a candle to him. With his skills, he is without question one of the best drivers.”
When asked what makes Red Bull Racing and Verstappen so strong, the former GP driver explains: “They are incredibly well organized. It starts with (Red Bull motorsport consultant, note) Helmut Marko and ends with the driver pairing Verstappen and Sergio Pérez. Everything fits, they harmonize incredibly well. You really have to compliment them.”
The title chance for Ferrari is still intact, emphasizes Stuck: “As long as the title is mathematically possible for you, Ferrari should not be written off. But the basis is that they correct their mistakes. Technically they are at a very high level. But one thing must not be forgotten: the driver Verstappen and the Red Bull Racing team are currently on the same pedestal. It just works for them.”
Hungarian GP, Hungaroring
01. Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, 1:39:36,533 h
02. Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes, +7,834 sec
03. George Russell (GB), Mercedes, +12,337
04. Carlos Sainz (E), Ferrari, +14,579
05. Sergio Perez (MEX), Red Bull Racing, +15,688
06. Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari, +16,047
07. Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, +1:18,300 min
08. Fernando Alonso (L), Alpine, +1 Runde
09. Esteban Ocon (F), Alpine, +1 Runde
10. Sebastian Vettel (D), Aston Martin, +1 lap
11. Lance Stroll (CDN), Aston Martin, +1 Runde
12. Pierre Gasly (F), AlphaTauri, +1 Runde
13. Guanyu Zhou (RC), Alfa Romeo, +1 Runde
14. Mick Schumacher (D), Haas, +1 lap
15. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), McLaren, +1 lap
16. Kevin Magnussen (DK), Haas, +1 Round
17. Alexander Albon (T), Williams, +1 Runde
18. Nicholas Latifi (CDN), Williams, +1 Runde
19. Yuki Tsunoda (J), AlphaTauri, +2 Runden
Out
Valtteri Bottas (FIN), Alfa Romeo, Motor
Championship status (following 13 of 22 races)
driver
01. Verstappen 258 points
02. Leclerc 178
03. Pérez 173
04. Russell 158
05. Sainz 156
06. Hamilton 146
07. Norris 76
08. Ocon 58
09. Bottas 46
10. Alonso 41
11. Magnussen 22
12. Ricciardo 19
13. Gasly 16
14. Vettel 16
15. Schumacher 12
16. Tsunoda 11
17. Zhou 5
18. Stroll 4
19. Albon 3
20. Latif 0
21. Nico Hülkenberg (D) 0
Constructors’ Cup
01. Red Bull Racing 431 Punkte
02. Ferrari 334
03. Mercedes 304
04. Alpine 99
05. McLaren 95
06. Alfa Romeo 51
07. Haas 34
08. AlphaTauri 27
09. Aston Martin 20
10. Williams 3
