Verstappen gained a record-breaking 15 of the 22 races in 2022 as he stormed to a second successive world title with 4 rounds to go, including to his controversial conquer Lewis Hamilton in 2021.
The Dutchman completed 146 factors away from his nearest rival in one of the crucial dominant campaigns in F1 historical past. In addition to being a two-time world champion, Verstappen has additionally racked up a outstanding 35 grand prix wins on the age of simply 25.
Verstappen’s ruthless consistency has been likened to that of Michael Schumacher, with some suggesting he may even go on to interrupt all F1 data given his success over the previous 12 months.
Purple Bull crew boss Horner says Verstappen has a top quality he has “by no means seen earlier than” in a driver.
“I believe they’re such completely different folks,” Horner mentioned when requested to check Verstappen with Sebastian Vettel, who loved a spell of four-consecutive world title wins with Purple Bull between 2010 and 2013.
“I imply, Sebastian was very Germanic in his work ethic. He labored very, very exhausting. Max – only a very pure, uncooked means that has a starvation and willpower like I’ve actually by no means seen earlier than.
“So, very completely different in so some ways, however very related of their willpower, of their want to wish to win, to wish to be the perfect.
“Max, no matter he goes on to attain in his profession, has finished a lot in such a brief house of time. On the age of simply 25, it is fairly horrifying to suppose what really lies forward of him.”
Horner believes Verstappen finally made the distinction as he bounced again from two early retirements that left him enjoying catch as much as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
“It was a really robust yr,” he mentioned. “While you have a look at the statistics, it appears to be like like we completely dominated it however actually – within the first half of the season – Ferrari had their probabilities and doubtless a faster bundle.
“However Max was excellent all year long, notably in that first half.”
