Mika Hakkinen: Max Verstappen has special qualities

Mika Häkkinen, summarizing the results of the year, drew attention to such a feature of the season as the record length: in the opinion of the two-time world champion, this could lead to negative consequences.

Mik Häkkinen: “The 2023 championship was a record length compared to my seasons in Formula 1. I think we had no more than 17 races per year then, and now there are 22.

I visited some of them and I could see from the people’s faces how difficult it was for them at the end of the season. Ultimately, the number of stages itself – 22 – is not that big, but the problem is that there are always races that take place one after the other at weekly intervals.

Moving from one song to another is not an easy task, and every time you need to tune in properly, you have to prepare and get into a working rhythm. I think this is the most difficult thing for many people and it is not only about the riders, but also about the mechanics and all the people involved in the work processes.

But in the future there will be more races – 24, and this promises to be a very difficult test. There is probably a demand in the world for such a number of Grand Prix, perhaps the fans want there to be more races – well, it is up to Formula 1 to create such a calendar. But if I were still participating in the World Championship and had seen this number of races, I would have been in a difficult position in negotiations with the team on the topic of compensation.

But that is not the only case. Can we be sure that people can withstand such taxes? Is it possible to guarantee that everyone will still work error-free? Formula 1 is a sport of the highest speeds and mistakes are not allowed here.”

Häkkinen also shared his thoughts on what makes Max Verstappen such a great driver: “Every driver spends a certain number of seasons in the team, say three or four years, and if he is consistently fast, if he has come to an agreement with the engineers, then the results will be approximately at the same level.

During this period, the same people are responsible for the development and modernization of the car and together you analyze problems more deeply, you receive more and more accurate information and you already know how to achieve the optimal behavior of the car so that it matches the driving style of a certain racer.

I think the Red Bull car is optimized for Max’s preferences and that’s what helps him achieve consistency because it suits him 100%. The team found a special approach to all aspects of working with the car, from the engine power, the precise operation of the brakes and transmission, to the efficiency of the aerodynamics at different speeds and maintaining the desired tire temperature. Even Verstappen’s teammate cannot reach his level, although Sergio has been playing for this team for some time.

When I talk about the drivers and teams of modern Formula 1, I always turn to my own experiences. I remember how we once participated in the World Championship and how we overcame difficulties. When I see Max’s results this year, I understand that he is under very high pressure.

To perform like that you have to be extremely focused all the time and I don’t think that’s just because the RB19 and the Red Bull team are so good. This is impossible without the special qualities of a racer, and Max has these special qualities. He manages to stay at a consistently high level throughout the season.

Verstappen shows such speed that it destroys Perez’s confidence in his abilities, he cannot keep up with his partner, but Max’s success can be explained by many reasons. The thing is also that in his youth he literally lived on karting tracks, which allowed him to learn very quickly and then this approach paid off.

Moreover, he made his debut in Formula 1 at a very young age, which is very rare. He started gaining experience very early and that now gives him an advantage.”