Heidfeld: "Unshakable self-confidence is Verstappen's greatest asset"
General
- GPblog.com
De verwachtingen voor de eerste Grand Prix van het seizoen 2020 zijn hooggespannen. Met twee races op de Red Bull Ring waar Max Verstappen de afgelopen twee jaar won, lijkt het voordeel bij Red Bull Racing te liggen. Verstappen zelf is wat bescheiden over zijn kansen, maar als het aan voormalig F1-coureur Nick Heidfeld ligt is deze start expres zo uitgekiend door Helmut Marko.
Start in Austria
Red Bull Racing's team advisor has put a lot of effort into the start of the season in Austria, with the aim of giving Mercedes the go-ahead right away. On the Sky Sports F1 website Heidfeld writes in his column: "I see the silver arrows as favourites, but Red Bull did a great job in the winter, they can be very close."
"The biggest plus of the first two races... In Spielberg Max Verstappen has won the last two years and Budapest [Hungary] has been made for the Bulls because of the lay out. Helmut Marko did everything he could to start the season in Austria. With a reason! After the first three races the momentum can already be on the challenger's side and put Mercedes under direct pressure."
Hungary also turned out to be a good job for Red Bull last year, although Verstappen was passed by Lewis Hamilton at one point. Nevertheless, it looks good for the Dutchman and his team.
Become champion
Heidfeld goes further than that in his piece, he sees a serious chance for Verstappen to become champion. "Max Verstappen has what it takes to become the youngest champion in history this year. I have to admit, I was a bit sceptical about him at first. I thought he was too confident and couldn't learn from his mistakes."
"But he proved me wrong! He's getting better. His unshakeable, God-given self-confidence is his greatest asset in the title battle. We might even see some history this year," concludes Heidfeld his piece about Max Verstappen.