The 2022 season started with a lot of promise, as the major regulation changes shook up the grid and the expectations on each team.
While Mercedes dropped away from the top while battling a major porpoising issue, Ferrari stepped up to the plate and looked like early favourites for the title with Charles Leclerc.
Unfortunately for the Scuderia, a number of strategic errors and reliability issues saw the team fall out of the title race, allowing Max Verstappen and Red Bull to cruise to both championships with races to space.
Having now won two consecutive titles at the age of 25 and having broken the record for most wins in a single season, many fans are suggesting that Verstappen may already be one of the best drivers of all time.
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F1 chief Pat Symonds has doubted these arguments however, suggesting that Verstappen cannot be considered one of the best until he is seriously tested.
“I think it’s early to say that, he’s driving absolutely superb last year but the challenge fell away didn’t it,” he told Sky Sports.
“The Ferrari was there at the beginning of the year but by the end of the year it [wasn’t].
“Not so much falling away because actually the competitiveness in the last few races was very good but along the way the mistakes, the tactical calls really left Max in a great position.
“Now don’t get me wrong I’m not detracting anything from his driving, his skill, his age, absolutely amazing.
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“But I think we need a few more years and see Max in a car that’s not quite so good. What’s been harder, winning in a great car or driving a car that you might describe in terms you shouldn’t use on air.”
Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher are considered by many to be the greatest F1 drivers of all time, as they currently share the record of seven world championship titles.
With only two titles to his name so far, Verstappen has a long way to go until he can match the feats of Hamilton and Schumacher.