F1: Verstappen must not become complacent

Nico Rosberg has warned Max Verstappen “not to get complacent” as he schools the rest of the Formula 1 drivers week-in and week-out.

Verstappen is closing in on Sebastian Vettel’s record of nine straight wins – something he can eclipse should he win the Belgian, Dutch and Italian Grands Prix.

#1 Max Verstappen, (NED) Oracle Red Bull Racing, Honda during the Hungarian GP, Budapest 20-23 July 2023 at the Hungaroring, Formula 1 World championship 2023.

But 2016 champion Rosberg has warned Verstappen of complacency.

“He generally needs to be careful that he doesn’t get complacent,” Rosberg told the Sky Sports F1 podcast.

“He’s in such incredible flow where no one can touch him, and that’s usually when there’s a risk of getting complacent, and you lose a bit of motivation.

“So he just needs to be a bit careful of that. But I don’t see it happening.

“Because his state of mind is phenomenal and just he’s so focused, and so in the zone all the time. It’s like art. It’s amazing.

“I’m one of the people that can best judge his performance at the moment and the level that he’s driving at.

“Yes, it doesn’t exactly make for the most exciting races at the very front but he’s so deserving because it’s incredible the level that he’s at that, so close to perfection all the time.

“You’ve got to compare to the teammate, look where Sergio Perez is.

“I mean, his best Qualifying result in the last six Grands Prix was ninth on the grid [in Hungary].

“Sergio is a really good driver, he knows how to drive a racing car – but Max is just extraordinary.”