F1
Four-time world champion, where does Max Verstappen rank in the F1 charts?
© Beto Issa / DPPI
Party night, coronation night on the Las Vegas side where Max Verstappen clinched his 4th consecutive world championship title under the lights of the city of sin. There was no victory like in 2021 and 2022 or a 2nd place in the Sprint in Qatar in 2023, but the Dutchman managed to beat Lando Norris. Enough to be definitely safe from the Englishman with two rounds remaining.
« It's been a long season so far, the pilot said. Red Bull, relieved. We started amazingly, it was calmer after that. We had some difficult moments, but as a team we stuck together to try to improve the car. I'm very proud of everyone in the team. I couldn't have hoped to be a four-time world champion. I feel relieved, but also very proud.
I was just happy to be there when I started in F1 (at the 2015 Australian Grand Prix with Toro Rosso. Editor’s note). I was hoping to get on podiums, to get victories, which is already very difficult to achieve. There were a few difficult years when I tried. Then we put a car on the track with a new concept. To be four times world champion is incredible. »
Verstappen joins Prost and Vettel
What about Formula 1 history after winning the title for the 4th time? In the list of winners, Max Verstappen has “left behind” Ayrton Senna, Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda, Jack Brabham and Nelson Piquet, among the triple champions.
Now he is on par with Sebastian Vettel (titled from 2010 to 2013, also with Red Bull) and Alain Prost (1985-1986, 1989 and 1993). A great pride to be joined by Max [Verstappen], like Sebastian [Vettel], the latter confided to Canal+. These are drivers I like. This year the championship has been very different for Max, but it reflects exactly what Max has become in years since his controversial title in 2021. In 2022 and 2023 it was certainly a little easier but this year he showed something even different. He fully deserves his title »
Ahead of him, the Dutchman has only three drivers: Juan Manuel Fangio and his 5 crowns (1951 then from 1954 to 1957), and Michael Schumacher (1994-1995 then from 2000 to 2004) and Lewis Hamilton (2008, 2014-2015 and then from 2017 to 2020) which culminate at the top of the charts with 7 titles. Will Max Verstappen one day be able to equal or even surpass them?
ALSO READ > The 5 key moments of Max Verstappen's 4th title
Gonzalo Forbes
In charge of promotion formulas (F2, F3, FRECA, F4...). Carried by the grace of Franco Colapinto.
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vincent moyet
25/11/2024 at 11:04 a.m.
If he does not intend to stay in F1 beyond his contract with Red Bull (until 2028), he will have to win the title for 4 more consecutive seasons to overtake Hamilton and Schumacher. But from next year onwards it promises to be rather difficult or even shaky. And no one knows what the Ford engine will be worth in 2026, but that an engine manufacturer will win the title as soon as it arrives in F1, with the complexity of current engines, seems unlikely. Would the path of following Honda and Newey to Aston then be worth considering? For the moment, Aston continues its dizzying decline instead of progressing. Replacing a possibly disappointing Antonelli at Mercedes? Or Hamilton retiring at Ferrari?