Max Verstappen’s journey to a historic third Formula 1 World Championship was officially sealed with a hard-fought second-place finish in the sprint race at the Qatar Grand Prix.
While the achievement places him in the esteemed company of F1 legends like Ayrton Senna and Niki Lauda, the circumstances surrounding his victory have sparked debate within the sport.
Verstappen’s third consecutive title may have come in a half-hour sprint race on a relatively new and unremarkable track, but the outcome was never truly in doubt.
The Red Bull driver’s dominance throughout the season made it evident that the championship was destined to be his once again.
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The Red Bull RB19, crafted by the genius of F1 design engineer Adrian Newey, proved to be one of the most dominant cars in the sport’s history.
However, it was Verstappen’s exceptional skill behind the wheel that truly set the car apart.
His teammate, Sergio Perez, struggled to match his level of performance, often making the car look ordinary.
Verstappen’s season has been marked by remarkable achievements, including ten consecutive victories from May to September, surpassing Sebastian Vettel’s 2013 record by one.
Red Bull also enjoyed a record-breaking run with 14 consecutive wins from the start of the season until a less-than-stellar performance in Singapore.
With 13 wins out of 16 Grands Prix already under his belt and six more races to go, Verstappen is poised to surpass his own all-time record of 15 victories in a season.
He may also climb higher in the all-time list of winners, potentially surpassing the likes of Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel.
As F1 personnel gathered in Qatar, Verstappen’s peers heaped praise on his exceptional performance.
Lewis Hamilton, his 2021 title rival, lauded Verstappen’s accomplishments, acknowledging that he and Red Bull had “raised the bar.”
McLaren’s Lando Norris emphasised Verstappen’s unwavering commitment, stating that he performed “at 100%, 100% of the time.”
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Norris also highlighted that Verstappen had demonstrated incredible consistency throughout the season, leaving no room for weaknesses.
Fernando Alonso, a two-time F1 champion, expressed “big respect” for Verstappen’s “incredible season.”
He noted the challenges Verstappen had faced, including unpredictable weather conditions during races, and emphasised the significance of delivering consistently without making mistakes.