The toughest task in F1 right now is beating Max Verstappen. That’s why it’s especially noteworthy that Lando Norris defeated him in sprint qualifying at the Chinese Grand Prix.
A late rain shower in Friday’s session shook things up, with drivers sliding round the lap on the unfamiliar surface. Norris proved to be the master of the conditions as he took pole, with Verstappen only fourth.
Still, the Dutchman will fancy his chances of coming through to win the 100km race on Saturday morning. Even if he doesn’t, then he’ll remain the overwhelming favourite to take the official pole and the more valuable race win.
Verstappen has won three of the first four Grands Prix this year in dominant fashion, with only a DNF in Australia halting his streak. He’s on course to romp to the title yet again, although it’s unclear if he’ll be able to match last year’s records.
With the regulations set to remain fundamentally the same for 2025, Red Bull will surely be the team to beat once again. Few would bet against him being a five-time world champion by the end of next year.
But come 2026, things might just be different. Teams will have to adapt to arguably the biggest rule change in recent history, and that could change the pecking order.
Sebastian Vettel picks British driver as world champion in-waiting
In a quickfire interview with talkSPORT, Vettel was asked to name the next F1 champion ‘not named Max Verstappen or Lewis Hamilton‘. Between them, the duo have won nine of the last 10 titles.
Hamilton’s former Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg is the only driver who’s interrupted that streak. But Vettel thinks his current teammate could be next in line.
After pausing for a moment to consider his answer, Vettel simply replied: “George Russell.”
Russell his 108 races into his F1 career and took his one and only win to date at the 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix, but he has achieved 11 podiums. Mercedes are a long way off challenging for titles at the moment – fourth in the constructors’ championship – but Vettel clearly has long-term confidence in them.
Could George Russell partner Sebastian Vettel at Mercedes next year?
Vettel’s prediction is significant given the talk around him potentially coming back to F1 with Mercedes. The German has admitted that he remains in contact with team boss Toto Wolff and has refused to rule out a return.
He retired at the end of the 2022 season but, at 36, is still three years younger than Hamilton and six younger than Fernando Alonso. And there’s no question that he’s an all-time great, with four titles under his belt.
Vettel says he remains in the appropriate physical condition to get back behind the wheel if he receives the right offer. For his part, Russell maintains that he’d back himself against any teammate and would welcome him back.
However, one journalist has warned Wolff that he’d be ‘completely mad’ to take a gamble on Vettel at this stage. Further down the grid, 2026 entrants Audi may see it as a risk worth taking.
The post Sebastian Vettel predicts who will be the next F1 world champion 'not named Max Verstappen' appeared first on F1 Oversteer.
