{"id":295875,"date":"2023-12-03T15:09:07","date_gmt":"2023-12-03T15:09:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsloveme.com\/?p=295875"},"modified":"2023-12-03T15:09:07","modified_gmt":"2023-12-03T15:09:07","slug":"verstappen-has-heartfelt-message-thrown-back-in-his-face-as-red-bull-ace-snubbed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsloveme.com\/racing\/f1\/verstappen-has-heartfelt-message-thrown-back-in-his-face-as-red-bull-ace-snubbed\/","title":{"rendered":"Verstappen has heartfelt message thrown back in his face as Red Bull ace snubbed"},"content":{"rendered":"

Max Verstappen wins third consecutive Formula One world championship<\/h3>\n

Former F1 boss Franz Tost believes that Max Verstappen would be trumped by a prime Sebastian Vettel if they competed in equal machinery, despite the Dutchman paying a heartfelt tribute to the departing AlphaTauri boss after his final race in Abu Dhabi.<\/p>\n

Having sewn up his 19th Grand Prix win of the season – a new record – Verstappen went out of his way to include Tost in his final message. The 67-year-old gave Verstappen his big break in F1 at Toro Rosso, which was later rebranded as AlphaTauri.<\/p>\n

“Thank you to everyone,” Verstappen said on the Red Bull team radio at Yas Marina Circuit. “And thank you to Franz Tost. He has had lots of us under his wings and it is his last race \u2013 so thank you to Franz.”<\/p>\n

The touching tribute wasn’t enough to sway Tost in his belief that four-time world champion Vettel, who retired from F1 in 2022, would win more races than Verstappen if they competed against one another in the same car.<\/p>\n

Don’t miss… <\/strong> Toto Wolff snubs Verstappen as Hamilton tipped for title if condition is met<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

When asked who he thought would have the edge in a Grand Prix, the Austrian replied: “Could be Sebastian.” He did, however, admit that Verstappen would have his backing in a one-lap qualifying battle while explaining why he would pick the pair to form his dream F1 partnership.<\/p>\n

“[It’s] because of their dedication to the sport and their speed,” Tost said. “They know how to win races and they also bring all the factors with them, what you need to win races. This is, first of all, the talent. You must be highly skilled to drive such a car.<\/p>\n