Felipe Massa, who was a Ferrari driver, has given a series of names of possible candidates to be Formula 1 champions in the coming years. And in that comment he has left a ‘stick’ for the Spanish Carlos Sainz the same as for the Mexican Sergio Pérez.
In an interview with ‘Bild’, he gave these names: “As Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc He is an exceptional pilot. Red Bull’s second driver, Sergio Perez, he is too inconsistent, just like Carlos Sainz at Ferrari. George Russell could become a title contender in the next few years.”
He believes that the Dutchman’s three-time championship will come soon and it won’t be the last: “Verstappen has been world champion for the last two years. I see no reason for him not to achieve the triplet or many more. Max can win four, five or six titles in a row.”
“Max doesn’t make mistakes, he drives like a robot. He’s extremely mature for his age. The two titles have made him even better. Now he’s more relaxed, he’s not as tenacious,” details the Brazilian ex-driver, who brushed the tips of his fingers the world cup 2008.
Of course, do not bet on an overwhelming dominance of Verstappen because in F1 “everything can change” in a few months: “Next year, however, the title fight can be very different if Mercedes regains its former strength. That is the appeal of Formula 1, and from 2026 the cards will be reshuffled.”
Verstappen is still the favourite, but despite Massa’s comment, Checo Pérez is showing that he could compete in this 2023. At the moment he is only one point behind his teammate and he has already pocketed a victory, that of Saudi Arabia.
