Ricciardo Believes Max Verstappen Will Dominate F1 “For as Long as He Wants” Like Hamilton

Many have touted Max Verstappen to be a future world champion and the driver who will eventually dethrone Lewis Hamilton. Now, his former teammate, Daniel Ricciardo, too, has words of praise for the Red Bull champion. He believes, Ricciardo thinks that Verstappen can be at the top of F1 as long as he wants.

The Dutch driver has been in great form and currently sits in second place in the driver’s standings behind Mercedes’s Lewis Hamilton. Verstappen will aim to have a better result at Monaco that will see him try to close the gap to Hamilton.

The Red Bull prodigy has shown amazing pace but will be hoping that he can carry that form throughout the 2021 season with the aim to win his first title.

Ricciardo believes Max Verstappen can be at the top for a long time

Speaking to Racingnews365, he explained how he believes that the Dutchman is destined to dominate F1 for years once he reaches his peak, “I think Max (Verstappen) will be at the top for as long as he wants to race.

“Probably that is with him, as with Lewis (Hamilton), that he will go far, can be into his 30’s if he wants to,” Ricciardo said.

Nico Rosberg thinks that the pressure on Max to win the title has increased

Rosberg won the championship back in 2016, beating his former teammate Hamilton. He understands the pressure that the 23-year-old will face if he wants to win the title.

Speaking to Sky Italia as quoted by PlanetF1, Rosberg said, “Last year Max didn’t have the car to fight for the championship, he had the car just to do sometimes the phenomenon and win some races, but in that situation, you don’t have a lot of pressure.

“This year he’s the favourite, he has the best car out there, if Lewis stays ahead of him like it happened so far in the championship, Max has a lot to lose. So the pressure is a lot, it changes a lot. You have to be able to handle the situation of being the favourite.

“You already see the mind games. Lewis is labelling Max as the favourite, saying he has the better car, that he’s the favourite, that he’s the one who has something to lose,” he concluded.

With the fifth round of the championship just days away, Verstappen would aim for a better result at Monaco that will help him in the fight for the championship.

Read More: Report: Big Blow for Max Verstappen as Home Race in Zandvoort Comes Under Cancellation Threat

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