Vettel: 'What Verstappen is doing is not easy'
F1 News
Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel has respect for Max Verstappen's performance this season. In an interview at Goodwood with PlanetF1, the German shows great appreciation for the dominance of both Verstappen and his former employer Red Bull Racing. The first 10 races of this season fell to the Austrian team, with Max Verstappen going on to take eight wins, and Vettel takes his hat off to it.
Sebastian Vettel also had moments of dominance during his years at Red Bull. But the German finds it difficult to compare the dominant phases of teams and drivers. "Every phase of when somebody was able to dominate or win a lot is probably different. So I don’t think there’s much point in comparing, because yes, it was a different time when I was racing – it’s different now. But what you do need to do is learn to enjoy, I think, the perfection. It’s just the constant level of consistency and the skill of getting it right from the whole team every weekend," Vettel said.
Vettel expresses admiration for Verstappen
Vettel also looks at Max Verstappen's performance with admiration: "From the driver’s point of view, you have to give it to him – Max is doing an incredible job. He’s an incredible talent, and he’s not doing any mistakes. I mean, Sergio Perez is not a bad driver, but do you see how quickly things can go wrong?"
'Dominance Hamilton not easy either'
The former F1 driver also enjoyed some dominant seasons in his Red Bull days. Experience tells him that while dominating may look easy, it is definitely not. "I’m sure Lewis [Hamilton] would agree as well, in all the years that he won, that it wasn’t a walk in the park. Ultimately, going back to me, to Michael Schumacher, to Mika Hakkinen, to all the people that maybe had that era – it wasn’t a walk in the park, and it was probably when you were at your best and enjoying the work and commitment with the team."