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MotoGP superstar Marc Marquez made an appearance in the F1 paddock at the Barcelona Grand Prix on Friday, and heaped praise on Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
The two highly successful racers share a combined world championship tally of 13, with Marc Marquez’s nine world championships in Grand Prix motorcycle racing seemingly dwarfing Max Verstappen’s incredible achievements in Formula 1.
Tell us the moment you realised Max Verstappen was different 👽
Of course, with Marquez being five years older than Verstappen, the Dutchman certainly has a bit of time to catch up.
However, as a highly ambitious, super-aggressive rider in MotoGP, Marquez is a very big fan of his four-wheeled counterpart’s skillset, and has delved into the reason why he chooses Verstappen as the F1 driver who he sees part of himself in.
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Marc Marquez praises Max Verstappen’s ‘grit’ in Formula 1
The Barcelona-born MotoGP legend was present in the F1 paddock on Friday afternoon, and was asked by DAZN about which current driver on the grid he resonates with the most.
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Of course, his compatriots, Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz, immediately came to mind, but he simply couldn’t ignore Verstappen’s achievements and mentality.
“Look, I’d love to say Fernando Alonso, because everything Fernando has done for Formula 1 in Spain is impressive,” he began. “I’ve also shared many moments with Carlos Sainz.
“He has no shortage of talent, it’s just that we’re in a world where it’s not down to just the athlete, or driver in this case. It depends on them, but there’s a car, or there’s a motorcycle; there’s an infrastructure behind it all that has to add up.
“But the one I love, for his grit, for what he gives on the track, is Max Verstappen. For me, he’s a beast. I grew up with him because we’re from the same generation, but I remember being little and watching Fernando, and now I identify with the Verstappen generation.”
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The admiration between Marc Marquez and Max Verstappen is mutual
Verstappen is also a keen admirer of the seven-time MotoGP world champion’s talents too, and revealed his sentiments towards Marquez during a 2023 interview.
Speaking via F1Max.nl, he said, “I think Marc is an incredible talent and one of the best riders in MotoGP history. He has achieved so much in his career, and I am always impressed by his fighting spirit.”
Given Marquez’s former ties to Honda, the two heavyweights of their respective categories of motorsport teamed up for a promotional karting event, in which they joined forces as teammates.
Of course, no one was able to get the better of them during the event, with Verstappen and Marquez sharing the top step of the podium.
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