F1 News: Max Verstappen Admits To "Big Embarrassing Mistake" In 2023 Season

Max Verstappen's 2023 season was marked by a singular embarrassing mistake at Silverstone

Max Verstappen, reflecting on his otherwise stellar 2023 Formula 1 season, admitted to making a "big embarrassing mistake" by driving into the Silverstone pit wall. This error, rare in his season of record-breaking achievements, stands out as a singular lapse in an otherwise impeccable performance.

Key Takeaways

• Record-Breaking Season: Max Verstappen claimed an unprecedented 19 grand prix wins out of 22 in the 2023 season, setting a new standard in Formula 1 with a third consecutive World Championship and a final tally of 575 points.
• Singular Error at Silverstone: In a rare moment of lapse, Verstappen drove into the pit wall during the British Grand Prix qualifying, damaging his front wing and marking it as his only major error of the season, which he himself described as "rather embarrassing."
• Challenges and Tensions: Despite the near-perfect season, Verstappen faced challenges, such as an incorrect setup in Singapore and instances of tension with his team, like in the Spanish GP where he pursued the fastest lap against team advice.

Max Verstappen's 2023 Formula 1 season was nothing short of extraordinary. Dominating the tracks, he secured his third World Championship in a row, achieving a historic 19 wins out of 22 races. This performance not only shattered previous records but also set a high bar for future seasons that may potentially never be broken. 

However, even in such a triumphant season, Verstappen acknowledges a moment of fallibility. The incident at Silverstone, where he hit the pit wall during qualifying, was a rare error in his otherwise flawless campaign. 

“You can always do better. Sometimes you’re just less far away from perfection than usual," he said. 

Reflecting on this, Verstappen said:

“I’ve only made one big mistake this year. I drove into the pit wall at Silverstone. That’s rather embarrassing.”

The season wasn't without its other challenges. Verstappen continued, referencing the Singapore Grand Prix as another difficult moment, where an incorrect setup on his RB19 led to a less-than-ideal performance, resulting in a fifth-place finish. This was Red Bull's only defeat in the 2023 season, with the crown falling on Ferrari's Carlos Sainz instead. 

Verstappen's approach to racing often involves pushing limits, but he admits that even while on the edge of his seat, he's able to maintain an impressive level of clean driving:

“Normally everything is controlled from my side.

“I think even in Barcelona,when I already had three cautions for these track limits. Nevertheless, I said to myself, I have to have this fastest race lap, so don’t make another mistake.”

Looking ahead, Verstappen is already favoured to win the 2024 World Championship. If successful, he would match Sebastian Vettel's record of four consecutive titles with Red Bull, an achievement that he should be very proud of.