The Dutch F1 champion will become the first since Vettel to choose the number one to defend his title.
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Dutch F1 champion Max Verstappen will be bringing rarity to light in the upcoming 2022 season. The first Dutchman to hold the coveted title will use the number one car to defend his title. And in doing so, he will become the first F1 driver, after four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel (in 2014) to repeat the feat.
However, looking back at his experience, Vettel feels that it won’t add any pressure for Verstappen and rather will serve him as a privilege. He, however, mentioned that every driver looks at it in a different way.
“To be honest, it was a long time ago for me!” joked the four-time champion, who gears up for a second season with Aston Martin in 2022, in an interview to formula1.com. “What I remember – I think it’s a boost, it takes a lot of weight, in a way, off your shoulders. But it’s a great feeling to start the season as world champion.
“You have the number one on your car, so it’s a privilege. I think we would all like to be in that position. It can only be one of us, and yes, I didn’t see it as an extra burden. If anything, it was a boost. So, I think he will probably feel the same. But then, everybody is different.”
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Seven-time F1 Champion Lewis Hamilton missed out on his record-title in the previous season as Verstappen of Red Bull Racing won the season after his victory at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2021. The top-two racers in 2021 were tied at 369.5 each before the race with Verstappen taking the pole position to become the first ever Dutchman to win the title.
And veteran F1 driver Fernando Alonso believes that Verstappen’s move to pick the number one car for 2022 season will only reduce the pressure in future and he can head in with the feeling of being a world champion.
“I think if anything you will have less pressure because you’ve already accomplished one of your dreams,” said Alonso. “And from now on it’s more fun.
“You go into races knowing you’re world champion already once and you always try to fight for championships and add numbers to that. But I think if anything, he should have less pressure.”
