Nico Rosberg has warned Max Verstappen "not to get complacent" during his dominance of Formula 1. Two-time World Champion Verstappen has won nine of the 11 races in the 2023 season, including seven straight from Miami to Hungary, dropping only two points in that time by not getting the fastest lap bonus point in Monaco or Canada. By winning at the Hungaroring, Verstappen equalled the seven wins in succession held by Alberto Ascari, Michael Schumacher and Rosberg - who set it across the 2015 and 2016 seasons for Mercedes. Verstappen is closing in on Sebastian Vettel's record of nine straight wins - something he can eclipse should he win the Belgian, Dutch and Italian Grands Prix. But 2016 champion Rosberg has warned Verstappen of complacency.
Rosberg's warning
"He generally needs to be careful that he doesn't get complacent," Rosberg told the Sky Sports F1 podcast. "He's in such incredible flow where no one can touch him, and that's usually when there's a risk of getting complacent, and you lose a bit of motivation. "So he just needs to be a bit careful of that. But I don't see it happening. "Because his state of mind is phenomenal and just he's so focused, and so in the zone all the time. It's like art. It's amazing. "I'm one of the people that can best judge his performance at the moment and the level that he's driving at. "Yes, it doesn't exactly make for the most exciting races at the very front but he's so deserving because it's incredible the level that he's at that, so close to perfection all the time. "You've got to compare to the teammate, look where Sergio Perez is. "I mean, his best Qualifying result in the last six Grands Prix was ninth on the grid [in Hungary]. "Sergio is a really good driver, he knows how to drive a racing car - but Max is just extraordinary." Do you think F1 should introduce Balance of Performance to reduce Red Bull's advantage? Let us know in the comments below and by voting in the poll!
Most read
