Brown: Battle behind Verstappen will 'just get more exciting'

McLaren boss Zak Brown says Max Verstappen's supremacy won't remain unchecked forever, but in the interim the battle behind the Red Bull charger will "just get more exciting".

Red Bull has remained undefeated since F1's finale in Abu Dhabi at the end of last season, the Milton Keynes-based outfit extending its domination this year thanks to the aerodynamic superiority of its RB19.

While Verstappen and teammate Sergio Perez traded wins in the first four events of 2023, the Dutchman is now in a league of his own, having delivered six consecutive victories the sum of which have put him 99 points ahead in the Drivers' championship.

Speaking to the media at last weekend's Festival of Speed at Goodwood, Brown praised Verstappen for his outstanding achievements this season, but underscored the massive battle that is unfolding among the Red Bull charger's pursuers.

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"He's doing an unbelievable, unbelievable job and it is great to see World Champions at the top of their game so you got to admire what he's doing," commented the McLaren boss.

"But I think once you look past Max, the field is unbelievably condensed. I think it's just going to get more exciting as we move forward."

Brown says the incredibly tight competition is exactly what F1 is looking for, and the American hopes McLaren will be the team that will be able to break loose and take the challenge to Red Bull.

"The racing has been unbelievably close other than Max, and even Sergio is in the mix," he said.

"I think it's a great time for F1 that in one weekend you have one team that's second quickest and the following weekend they're struggling to get out of Q1.

"That's the competition that we're looking for in F1, so someone will eventually catch Max. Hopefully it'll be us, chances are it'll be a handful of people."

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