Hakkinen predicts: 'Verstappen can only be stopped by technology'

Mika Häkkinen thinks Max Verstappen will have few challenges this season. Quoted by Speedweek the two-time world champion looks ahead to the 2023 season and states his expectations for the title fight.

Häkkinen does not expect very much to change in the overall ranking. In his opinion, in 2023 it will again be mainly Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull that will fight for the title. In doing so, Häkkinen believes the initiative should lie mainly with Red Bull's rivals.

"I am very curious if Mercedes has found more speed," the Finn wonders. "Is the new car working, or are there still problems? Ferrari needs to be as fast as in 2022, but development needs to be more efficient. Will Red Bull Racing face less development capacity because of the regulations and because of the budget cap penalty? For me, the biggest question mark at the first Grand Prix is not so much the speed of the race cars, but the reliability."

'Verstappen can only be held back by technology'

That reliability will be a risk for Red Bull in particular, according to Häkkinen. Not because the team has many problems with it, but because, according to Häkkinen, it is the only real challenge the team will face.

"Red Bull Racing has built an incredibly strong team in recent years. They have all the resources a top team needs and they have developed the best in recent years. That is precisely where Adrian Newey's experience is paying off. Max is in top form. The team knows what he can do and believes in him 100 per cent. The only way anyone can stop him from winning a third title is if technology lets him down. But I'd be surprised if that happens this year."