Mark Hughes is still confident that reigning Formula One World Champion Max Verstappen will race differently than Charles Leclerc in contrast to how he drove against 7-time Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton in 2021.
The competition between Hamilton and Verstappen in 2021 was intense. The Dutchman recognised his first opportunity to win a world championship and frequently displayed his indifference to the seven-time world champion. Verstappen demonstrated early in the season that he had no desire to give the British driver even an inch of room in Barcelona and Imola, but instances in Jeddah and Brazil also jump out as maybe over-the-top moves.
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Does Max Verstappen exhibit the attributes of a world champion?
Mark Hughes does not envision a clash with Leclerc using that strategy, when the Red Bull Racing driver drove his car all the way to the outside on the inside without avoiding touch with the opponent. The F1 journalist claims that although Verstappen had the opportunity to be more combative in previous encounters between the two, he chose to race fairly this time.
Hughes believes that this would be the fault of the rival, given Verstappen also used excessive force on Leclerc in Austria in 2019. The F1 pundit is more inclined to believe that Verstappen was motivated by a desire to succeed in 2021. He was suddenly capable of competing after years of having less resources, and he wanted to leave his imprint right away.
Hughes notices a notable change in Verstappen’s racing style now that he has the world championship in his possession. The Dutchman has been questioned multiple times about it, but he always brushes the inquiries off. The Dutchman claims that a modified driving style is unquestionable, but Hughes disagrees. ”But maybe one day, he’ll feel like explaining the change of style,” said Hughes.
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