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Max Verstappen’s fourth Formula 1 World Championship, secured at just 27 years old, has firmly cemented his place in the conversation surrounding the sport’s greatest drivers.
Now joining an elite list of champions—Juan Manuel Fangio, Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel, and Lewis Hamilton—Verstappen is poised to challenge even more records as he sets his sights on a fifth title, which would match the feats of Fangio, Schumacher, and Hamilton.
The Dutchman’s remarkable 2024 campaign was a masterclass . After dominating the early part of the season, winning seven of the first 10 races, Verstappen faced a mid-season slump with Red Bull’s car struggling.
Despite the setbacks, including an increasingly unpredictable vehicle and growing competition from McLaren, Verstappen’s performances remained exceptional. His dramatic victory at the São Paulo Grand Prix, where he stormed from 17th to 1st in torrential rain, epitomized his ability to deliver when it mattered most.
That Interlagos triumph was not just a standout moment of 2024; it was a career-defining performance that placed him alongside the legends of the sport.
In similar conditions, F1 greats like Ayrton Senna (Monaco 1984, Donington 1992), Michael Schumacher (Spain 1996), and Lewis Hamilton (Silverstone 2008) made their own indelible marks on the sport.
For Verstappen, 2024 also brought a unique challenge. Unlike his dominant 2023 season, when Red Bull’s car was virtually unbeatable, this year’s title came under tougher circumstances.
Verstappen himself reflected on the challenge, stating, “Last year I had a dominant car but I always felt not everyone appreciated what we achieved as a team… But I am also very proud of this season because for most of it, we didn’t have the fastest car, but actually, we still extended our lead.”
His comments were a direct rebuttal to those who suggest that his success is solely down to the machinery at his disposal. It’s an argument Verstappen has addressed before, particularly when McLaren CEO Zak Brown claimed that multiple drivers could win titles in a Red Bull.
Verstappen countered, “I could have won it even earlier if I were driving Brown’s McLaren,” a pointed remark aimed at McLaren and his title rival Lando Norris.
Another key aspect of Verstappen’s greatness is his ability to outpace his teammate, Sergio Pérez, whose struggles in the second Red Bull have been well-documented.
While some within Red Bull believe the car is somewhere between the performances of the two drivers, Verstappen’s extraordinary consistency and ability to extract more from the car have set him apart.
Of course, the question of whether Verstappen is the greatest of all time remains subjective. The sport’s evolution complicates direct comparisons between drivers from different eras.
Fangio’s five titles came in an era where races were fewer, and the risks to drivers’ lives were far greater. Modern F1, with its advanced technology and tighter safety standards, presents an entirely different landscape.
Still, Verstappen’s ability to dominate in both the best and worst conditions, as well as his consistency over time, suggest that he could soon leave the debate behind.
As Verstappen enters the 2025 season as the favorite, it seems likely that his place in F1 history is already secure.
Whether he stays with Red Bull in the long term or switches teams remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Verstappen’s pursuit of greatness is far from over.
(Credit: @ESPN)
