Horner selects Verstappen's 'greatest assets' after crushing 2023

Christian Horner believes Max Verstappen's ability to adapt and his inner self-confidence are his strongest assets after the dominance of 2023.

Verstappen broke a whole host of records in 2023, including most wins (19), most points (575), laps led (1,003) and largest gap to second place (290) as he wrapped up a third straight world title.

The Dutchman is now third on the all-time wins list with 54 and only Lewis Hamilton (103) and Michael Schumacher (91) ahead, with Verstappen winning 34 of the 44 races since the start of the ground effects era.

Reflecting on his becoming a three-time champion, secured in the Qatar Sprint, Red Bull boss Horner elaborated on just what piece of the Verstappen arsenal he feels is most potent.

"The ability to adapt and extract the most out of a car, and the confidence he has in himself and the belief and the determination that he has," replied Horner when asked by media including RacingNews365 what Verstappen's strongest assets are.

"You see it time and time again, whether it is on an out-lap, whether it is on an in-lap or the first lap of FP1 where there are changing conditions, the ability to adapt and be at one with the car is beyond anything we've ever seen before.

"He doesn't leave anything on the table, ad he wants it all.

"That drives and motivates the team internally and he is relentless in terms of his pursuit of performance. He just doesn't want to win, he wants to dominate.

"You see that in any great sportsperson, their pursuit of excellence and to dominate is a hallmark of what makes him such an exceptional talent."

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