Max Verstappen, the reigning Formula 1 world champion, has made a heartfelt personal appeal to Ferrari’s President, John Elkann.
The purpose of this appeal is to express Verstappen’s deep desire to acquire the iconic Ferrari F2004, the car in which the legendary Michael Schumacher clinched the last of his seven world championships.
Schumacher shares this prestigious record with Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton.
In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Verstappen conveyed his aspiration, stating, “I would like to have in my garage all the Red Bull cars with which I have won an F1 world championship, in addition to Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari F2004.
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“It is an incredible car. But I don’t know how I would buy it.
“This is an appeal to John Elkann – I hope he reads this interview and maybe calls me.”
The Ferrari F2004 holds a special place in the history of Formula 1 as the vehicle in which Michael Schumacher delivered a remarkable performance, winning the championship.
Schumacher’s illustrious career saw him secure his first two world titles with Benetton in 1994 and 1995, subsequently becoming the dominant force in the sport at the turn of the century.
He won an astonishing five consecutive championships from 2000 to 2004, cementing his status as one of F1’s greatest ever drivers.
Schumacher initially retired from Formula 1 at the end of the 2006 season but later made a comeback with Mercedes in 2010.
He subsequently retired for the second time in 2012, with Lewis Hamilton taking over his role at Mercedes.
Tragically, in 2013, Schumacher endured a severe brain injury in a skiing accident and has not been seen in public since.
Hamilton continued to make history in Formula 1 by dominating the sport for the better part of a decade.
Following his move to Mercedes, he secured six world championships between 2014 and 2020, adding to his first title with McLaren in 2008.
However, the current season marked Max Verstappen’s ascent to the top of Formula 1, as he secured his third consecutive world championship earlier this month.
Discussing his latest title, Verstappen shared his emotions, saying, “The first one was the most emotional – that’s when your dreams are fulfilled.
“This has been my best year.
“Sometimes I am not happy with the performance or how the weekend was going, but I always try to be perfect.
“I always try to be better every race weekend I go to.”
Verstappen’s dedication to continuous improvement and self-assessment has been a hallmark of his championship-winning performances.
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In his assessment, this year’s performance stands out as his best, emphasising, “I analyse my performance race after race, and the same this year.
“That’s why I think this year performance-wise is definitely the best one.
“The middle one is now the middle one.”