Verstappen: 'Enormous amount of talent' in F1 must be acknowledged

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Max Verstappen praised F1 for the diversity and "enormous amount of talent" that makes the beauty of the sport, suggesting that it doesn't get recognized enough by fans.

Last year, Verstappen conquered his second world title after fending off Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, his closest rival.

The rivalry between the Dutchman and the Monegasque followed an intense cut-throat duel in 2021 between Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton that went down to the wire in circumstances that have been well chronicled.

Verstappen believes that F1 fans don't always appreciate the high level of performance displayed in F1, or even in motorsport in general.

"Everyone is different in the way that they battle and they race," Verstappen said, quoted by RACER.

"But that’s the beautiful thing about the sport, because if everybody was the same then it would be pretty boring.

"Yes, you have a lot of good drivers but if they all act exactly the same it’s not really exciting to watch.

"So that’s why I think we have to appreciate the enormous amount of talent we have in the world and especially of course also in Formula 1."

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The two-time world champion and 35-time Grand Prix winner says his own efforts last year were largely determined by the difficult start to his 2022 campaign, and the deficit he conceded to Leclerc at the outset that left him chasing.

"I think as a driver you learn from every single year — you get more experience and you look at what you can do better," he added.

"Anyway, you know that when you have to fight for a title you have to score points every race as much as you can — that’s why (at) the beginning of the year it was very tough to have these DNFs.

"I knew from that point onwards that I couldn’t afford any mistakes from my side, in case we would have a retirement for whatever reason.

"So you always try to be as clean as you can be and try to be as perfect as you can every single weekend. It’s what I try to demand from myself every time I jump into the car."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.