Verstappen clinches his fourth F1 championship, raising the question: can he achieve a fifth consecutive title?
On Saturday in Las Vegas, Max Verstappen entered an elite circle of Formula One legends by securing his fourth championship title. However, extending this streak to a fifth consecutive victory next year promises to be an even more formidable and exhilarating challenge. Out of all drivers, only six have clinched four championships, and Michael Schumacher stands alone in achieving five back-to-back titles with Ferrari from 2000 to 2004. Among these elite racers, only Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel, who drove for Red Bull from 2010 to 2013, have claimed their first four titles in succession. Verstappen has been at the forefront of the standings since May 2022, recently surpassing Schumacher’s record of 896 days leading the pack. He will maintain this position until at least March 16, when the 2025 season kicks off in Australia. This upcoming season is highly anticipated as former champions McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes are already competing fiercely for victories, with the seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton poised to make a switch from Mercedes to Ferrari.
Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali extended his congratulations to Verstappen as fireworks lit up the Vegas Strip. “He is truly one of the sport’s greats and has much more to anticipate in his remarkable career,” he remarked. “This season has been exhilarating, and 2025 promises even tighter competition.” Verstappen began 2024 by securing pole position in the first seven races, winning seven of the initial 10, before experiencing a winless streak over 10 races as Red Bull’s supremacy waned. “If we secure the title again this year, it will primarily be thanks to Max,” stated Red Bull’s motorsport advisor Helmut Marko, after Verstappen broke the drought with a stunning victory from 17th to first place in a rain-drenched and tumultuous Brazilian race this month. “His exceptional driving skills masked the periods when the car was not performing well.” At 27, he has 62 wins, still trailing Hamilton’s 105, but the 2024 points gap—63 after Vegas—highlighted consistency rather than sheer speed.
This season, seven distinct drivers have each secured multiple victories, yet Verstappen cemented his points advantage early on and steadfastly maintained it. The question of how much longer he will remain in the sport is open, as numbers and statistics do not fuel his motivation. Verstappen is contracted until the end of 2028.
In a recent interview with Reuters, he expressed, “Now that I’ve won championships and races, for me, my goals are completed in Formula One.” He articulated that winning eight titles or surpassing the win record is not his focus. “I know that I can do that but you need in a way luck as well, for a long time that you are at the right team,” he explained.
While he acknowledges he could continue racing until he’s 40, it’s not his desire. He envisions reflecting on his life when he’s 80 as having truly enjoyed racing, having achieved all he set out to do, and having lived life to the fullest.
In 2021, Verstappen and Hamilton battled fiercely until the final race in Abu Dhabi, where Verstappen emerged victorious after then-race director Michael Masi made a contentious alteration to the standard safety car procedure. The subsequent year saw Red Bull clinch both titles, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc unable to maintain a promising start.
“I believe 2023 will always hold a special place,” commented Verstappen, who clinched victory in 19 out of 22 races during that historic season. This year, Verstappen sparked significant discussion regarding his aggressive driving tactics, with former champion Damon Hill likening him to the animated racing antagonist ‘Dick Dastardly’. Similarly, drivers like Schumacher and Ayrton Senna stirred similar debates in their heyday.
Verstappen also had a confrontation with the FIA over the use of swear words, while his father Jos had a dispute with Red Bull’s Christian Horner following baseless allegations of misconduct against the team principal. Despite the internal chaos, including the departure of chief designer Adrian Newey, Verstappen demonstrated remarkable tenacity.
Comparisons with his struggling Mexican teammate Sergio Perez became notably awkward. “He has been in a league of his own this year. His performance has been truly exceptional,” remarked Horner, wearing a sweatshirt where the A in Max was replaced by a 4. “He consistently exceeded expectations and delivered outstanding results. This fourth world championship is well-deserved and places him among the sport’s legends.”
