Max Verstappen rewrites rules of F1 dominance in cruise to third title
The Guardian says there has been little doubt for a long time that Max Verstappen held a third Formula One world championship in his hands. Now the Dutchman has sealed the deal in Qatar after a season in which no other driver has had so much as a look-in, the nature of his relentless drive to the title can be fully appreciated. Some in the paddock even consider this the “Verstappen era”, and the 26-year-old has made a convincing case to be considered among the greats.
Verstappen has all but redefined the terms of what constitutes a dominant season in F1. He has taken 13 wins from 16 races for Red Bull, including a record-breaking run of 10 consecutive victories. Every time he has taken to the track there has been a sense of inevitability. His teammate, Sergio Pérez, in identical machinery, has been left flailing, pushing too hard in a forlorn effort to close the gap.
The chasm between them is illustrative of the next level Verstappen has attained, appreciated not least by his Red Bull team principal, Christian Horner. “At 26 years old it is an outstanding achievement,” he says. “The manner in which he has done it has put him in the echelons of the greatest in the sport. To have won three titles in a row with the dominance that he had in 2022 and then this year is something the sport has not seen for a long, long time. It is easy to underestimate the level at which he is operating. He is earning his place with the greats, I believe he is up there with the very best of them.”