Verstappen picks 2023’s best and worst F1 races
Max Verstappen In an interview selected his best and worst moments from his incredible 2023 Formula 1 season with Red Bull.
Verstappen and Red Bull dominated the competition, winning 19 and 21 of the season’s 22 races, providing the Dutchman with an array of standout victories. In an interview, Verstappen reflected on his best and worst race weekends of the year.
Among his notable performances, Verstappen highlighted Spa and Japan. He commended Spa for its strength and mentioned Japan as an outstanding weekend, describing the driving experience as unbelievable from the first lap. Verstappen particularly enjoyed the balance and the qualifying session in Japan, emphasizing its pleasant driving quality.
The Suzuka weekend stood out for Verstappen due to his immediate pace in free practice, especially through the renowned Esses in sector one. In qualifying, he showcased superiority, outperforming competitors and securing a substantial lead over Piastri. In the race, Verstappen dominated, winning by a significant margin over Norris and Piastri, with Ferrari and Mercedes trailing by over 40 seconds.
Interestingly, Verstappen did not identify Singapore, the only race Red Bull did not win, as his worst weekend. Instead, he pointed to Baku, where he expressed dissatisfaction with the overall performance. Despite finishing second in the grand prix, Verstappen regarded it as the worst he had felt in the RB19. He utilized the race to experiment with setup options on the steering wheel, gaining valuable insights for future races. Verstappen acknowledged the learning experience from Baku, emphasizing the lessons for upcoming races.
