Max Verstappen has already cemented himself as the best driver in Formula One at this moment in time. It can be argued that he is already in the GOAT debate – only Hamilton, Schumacher and Fangio have won more world championships.
This season, he may not even win the title. He hasn’t had a campaign with as few wins, pole positions or podiums since 2020.
But the Dutchman wouldn’t be incorrect in saying that this year may have been his best. After McLaren’s disastrous double disqualification in Las Vegas, he sits just 24 points behind championship leader Lando Norris.
Verstappen needs some luck – much like in Vegas, if he is to win a fifth title. But a driver of his calibre shouldn’t be defined by statistics. It is a miracle that he is in this position in the first place.
In August’s Dutch Grand Prix, Verstappen finished second behind Oscar Piastri after Norris’ engine failure. This closed his gap to the British driver to 70 points, but extended his deficit to the championship leader Piastri.
Amazingly, he was 104 points behind. His win in Vegas drew him level with the Australian.
What changed?
The Red Bull driver hasn’t suddenly remembered to drive again since the race at Zandvoort. F1 drivers are heavily reliant on their team and the car they are provided with.
Proof of that statement is not hard to come by. Lewis Hamilton missed out on the driver’s title in 2021 by eight points, while his team, Mercedes, won the constructor’s championship. That year, he won eight races. In the four years since, he has won just twice.
Verstappen won his fourth consecutive title in 2024, but there were signs that Red Bull’s dominance was coming to an end. He won only two of the last 14 races, and McLaren took the constructors’ title.
Therefore, it was no surprise that McLaren began this season with the best car. However, Red Bull brought many mid-season upgrades, which have catapulted them into contention. The biggest of these arrived at Monza when they introduced a new floor and front wing.
In a recent interview, Verstappen claimed that he and his team have maximised almost every weekend this season. His only disappointing race was the Spanish Grand Prix.
After running in third, a safety car, followed by a strategy mistake from his team, left him vulnerable. The Dutchman lost his cool and made contact with two other drivers. He crossed the line in fifth, but was awarded a post-race penalty, which dropped him down to ninth place. That mistake cost him eight points, which could prove to be vital in the title race.
The genius of Verstappen
Verstappen has had an otherwise flawless season. He has taken the fight to the McLarens in far inferior machinery and delivered a series of magic moments.
His drive in Brazil, from the pit lane to the podium, will go down in F1 history. His pole lap in Suzuka, just three races into the season, stunned his own team. It was made all the more remarkable by the fact that his teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, qualified 15th.
That genius is what he should be judged on. Red Bull has scored 391 points this season, with 366 of them belonging to Verstappen. Take away his brilliance, and his team would have scored 25 points, sitting ninth in the constructors’ standings instead of third.
Verstappen has said that he is still in the title fight because of other people’s failures, referencing McLaren’s mistakes. But how many drivers would have been able to put themselves in the position he now faces?
If he does win the title, it will surely go down as one of the most jaw-dropping championship victories of all time. If he doesn’t, it will still be one of the greatest individual seasons ever.
McLaren has already sealed the constructors’ title and may well win the drivers’ title through Norris or Piastri. Yet everyone knows Verstappen is still the man to beat.
Click here for: Verstappen interview on fifth title hopes.
