Max Verstappen has solidified his place among Formula 1’s greatest, joining the elite list of drivers with four or more World Championships. Names like Juan Manuel Fangio, Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel, and Lewis Hamilton now welcome the Dutch driver after his fourth consecutive title triumph at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
A Challenging Yet Rewarding Path to the Title
On a weekend when the Red Bull RB20 wasn’t the fastest car on the grid, Verstappen did just enough to clinch the championship. A P5 finish, compared to title rival Lando Norris’s P6, sealed the deal for Verstappen. Norris had to outscore Verstappen by three points to keep the fight alive, but Verstappen’s consistency throughout the season proved decisive.
Reflecting on the journey, Verstappen shared: “It’s been a long season and of course we started off amazing, it was almost like cruising, but then we had a tough run. But as a team, we kept it together, we kept working on improvements and we pulled off the win. Incredibly proud of everyone, what they have done for me.”
From Young Dreamer to Four-Time Champion
When asked about his mindset entering F1 at just 17 years old, Verstappen admitted he never imagined achieving such heights: “I was just happy to be there and dreaming of potential victories or standing on the podium… Then we just got onto that run after a tough few years, and with the new concept [in 2022], to be standing here a four-time world champion is just incredible.”
Comparing Titles: 2023 vs. 2024
Verstappen acknowledged that the 2023 season, where he won 19 out of 22 races, was easier than this year. However, the challenges of 2024 offered invaluable lessons: “For sure it was a very challenging season. I think also as a person, at times it’s very challenging. I had to be calm. I think I still prefer last season; I enjoyed it a lot, but this season definitely taught me a lot of lessons. I’m very proud of how we handled it as a team.”
What’s Next for Verstappen and Red Bull?
With his fourth drivers’ championship secured, Verstappen now shifts his focus to helping Red Bull Racing chase a third straight Constructors’ Championship. Currently third in the standings, Red Bull trails leaders McLaren by 53 points heading into the final two races of 2024.
