formula 1
Bow to Verstappen: The best there ever was
Max Verstappen from the Netherlands from Team Red Bull in action. photo
© Toru Hanai/AP
Will Max Verstappen eventually overtake Michael Schumacher? With his third title, the Red Bull star collects further arguments. He doesn’t even have to win in Qatar to win the next World Cup trophy.
The comparison with Michael Schumacher is still shying away from Max Verstappen even before winning his third Formula 1 title in a row.
“He has won seven times, I still have to do a few more,” said the Dutchman before the Qatar Grand Prix. The German icon Schumacher and the Brit Lewis Hamilton hold the record for the most World Cup triumphs in the premier motorsport class, but Verstappen is currently inexorably getting closer. On Saturday (7.30 p.m./Sky) he can complete his successful title defense early with a sixth place in the sprint.
“I’m shaking,” said the Dutch Red Bull driver in the paddock, grinning mischievously and adding to his emotional state before what was almost certainly a decisive weekend: “No, it’s all good. We’re having an incredible year and we’re coming here to do it again to win.” Hardly anyone doubts his 14th Grand Prix victory this season in the main race on Sunday. The champion acted too dominantly, too flawlessly and was congratulated in the paddock even before the coup was even mathematically determined.
Praise from competitors
“He broke so many records, congratulations to him. And he didn’t just win easy races. When you do the job like that, it commands a lot of respect,” said Fernando Alonso. The Spaniard was world champion twice himself, but this year he had just as little chance as the rest of the field. Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Pérez came closest. But even the Mexican is a whopping 177 points behind with six race weekends to go. “Max did an outstanding job. He’s on a different level compared to all the other drivers,” praised Pérez.
And so Verstappen can become the eleventh driver to win his third title and even do it without interruption in fifth place. Verstappen is undoubtedly becoming one of the greats. Schumacher, Hamilton, Ayrton Senna, Juan Manuel Fangio, Sebastian Vettel or Alain Prost – where does he see himself among these names? “Every generation is a little different, so I find it difficult to compare world champions or non-world champions,” said Verstappen. Each individual is “special in his or her time.”
The next few years will show how successful he can still be. In any case, Verstappen himself is not thinking about winning seven titles or perhaps even more like Hamilton or Schumacher. “We see what happens year after year,” said Verstappen. Given the superiority of Red Bull and the next major rule reform, there is currently no end to his title series in sight until 2026. “I’m very proud to have achieved these things. And I still want to achieve more,” said Verstappen: “All of this is something that I would never have thought possible as a small child.”
How did Verstappen achieve these successes? With a mixture of unique talent, an uncompromising driving style and now a lot of experience. From the hothead who made his debut in Formula 1 at the age of just 17 without a driving license, the son of ex-racing driver Jos Verstappen matured into a superior and exceptional talent.
“He has an incredible feel for the vehicle, incredible control and reads situations extremely quickly,” praised Sebastian Vettel, himself a four-time world champion in Red Bull from 2010 to 2013: “You can only take your hat off to him with a little envy.” Verstappen became the first Formula 1 driver in history to win ten races in a row this year, overtaking Vettel’s previous record of nine World Championship races.
Ecclestone ennobles Verstappen
That’s not the only reason why long-time Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone called Verstappen the best driver ever in an interview with the German Press Agency. “Even in a car that isn’t the best, Max would beat a lot of people. He’s a superstar,” said Ecclestone: “There has never been anyone as good as Max is today.”
Verstappen is not planning a party for Saturday night. Because just because the title win is certain after he either gets three championship points or Pérez delivers a bad sprint, the season is far from over. “We want to win on Sunday too,” he said. And on the remaining five Grand Prix weekends until the end of November in Abu Dhabi, the competition cannot hope that the dominator will let up. “That’s just not who I am,” he said.
It was also because of this attitude that the 41-year-old Alonso from Aston Martin looked to the future and predicted before the decision in Qatar: “Max will definitely win more titles – and then you can compare him even more with Michael.”