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Hakkinen praises Verstappen and Red Bull: 'They're in the perfect position'

Hakkinen praises Verstappen and Red Bull: 'They're in the perfect position'

01-11-2022 14:02 Last update: 15:02
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GPblog.com

Max Verstappen achieved a record number of wins in one season with his Grand Prix victory in Mexico. According to two-time world champion Mika Hakkinen, the Dutchman is on another level.

Verstappen drove a perfect weekend with Red Bull Racing. On Saturday, the 25-year-old driver managed to grab his first pole position in Mexico, while on Sunday the team chose the perfect strategy. In his column for Unibet, Hakkinen talks about the incredible season of Verstappen and his team. "They are in that perfect position of having total confidence in themselves, their car and race strategy."

Verstappen had to pay close attention to his soft tyres at the start of the race. Lewis Hamilton stayed close to the Dutchman on his mediums in the opening laps. However, when Mercedes put the Briton on hard tyres, the pace deteriorated. Verstappen crossed the finish line on mediums with a 15-second lead. "Red Bull got it just right", Hakkinen observes.

Hakkinen praises 'fantastic' performance Verstappen

The Finn is impressed not only by Verstappen's tyre management, but also by his fourteen wins in one season. "It's something we have never seen before. It’s a fantastic achievement for Max and his team – and they can easily add to that in Brazil and Abu Dhabi. When you look at Sergio Perez’s result, finishing 3rd, it shows how tight the margins really are. Max is on a different level”, says the former Formula 1 driver.