Carlos Sainz identifies key weakness that could challenge Max Verstappen's F1 reign
Today at 01:59 PM
Scuderia Ferrari Spanish driver Carlos Sainz is convinced that Max Verstappen’s performance in the latter half of the current Formula 1 campaign reveals vulnerabilities that could open the door for a new champion in 2025.
Despite clinching his fourth consecutive title in Las Vegas, Max Verstappen’s dominance appeared to falter after an electric start to the year, where he secured victory in seven of the first 10 races.
However, the tide turned dramatically in the final 12 grands prix of the season, with Max Verstappen managing just one win in Brazil. This period saw Ferrari, McLaren, and Mercedes each claim multiple victories, signaling a competitive shake-up.
Carlos Sainz, who is set to leave Ferrari for Williams in 2025, argues that this shift demonstrates the growing potential of the field to challenge Verstappen consistently. He believes that the diversity of race winners in recent months highlights that the reigning champion can now be beaten “week in, week out.”
“As much as I think Max has done an incredible job this year, it just shows the second half of the season, eight drivers within a tenth of each other, we could all beat him week in, week out,” – the future Ferrari driver explained in a recent interview – “He was extremely good, you know, at dominating with a dominant car and extremely good at not making mistakes the second half of the season, and that’s what’s given him, for me, driver of the year and the championship. But the second half of the season just shows that when we are all in equal, more of an equal machinery, we can all go up against each other and make each other’s life difficult.” – he pointed out.
“And everyone starts making mistakes when they’re under pressure and everyone starts complaining about their car and everyone starts complaining in the media about their car. It’s all about pressure management and not having that margin. Whenever you don’t have a two, three-tenths margin on your nearest rival or your teammate, suddenly a pressure ramps up and everyone is human.” – Carlos Sainz concluded.
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