Verstappen is now in the same league as Senna and Lauda

When Max Verstappen made his Formula 1 debut at Toro Rosso in 2015 at the age of 17, he didn’t yet have a driving license. Now at 26, he has three world championship titles to his name. For the Dutchman, who was so superior this year, a second place behind McLaren sensation Oscar Piastri was enough in the Red Bull on Saturday in the sprint before the Qatar Grand Prix (still underway yesterday when this issue went to press) to take the crown for the third time after 2021 and 2022 to put on. The fact that he has to wait a few more weeks until he can receive the trophy after the season finale in Abu Dhabi at the end of November doesn’t bother the cool Max.

“They all look the same, I already have two at home. I can live with that,” he said after completing 19 laps on the Lusail International Circuit. The third driver’s title, in a row – he was only the fifth driver to achieve that. And in Qatar he made his ascension into the circle of the greatest in motorsport perfect. “Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda, ​​Ayrton Senna – he belongs to this exclusive club. And now he is counted among the legends,” said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner.

The Brit is full of praise when he talks about his pilot: “The pure speed, his skills, the hunger and the passion were there from day one. But now he combines that with experience and the way he does it Race reads, how he handles the tires, how he reads the situation. That’s phenomenal.”

Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko was also overwhelmed. “It’s unbelievable. We’ve been together with Max for ten years, and what has been achieved is a unique thing in the history of Formula 1. He’s 26 years old, there’s still a lot to come,” said the 80-year-old Styrian, who appeared at the sprint dressed in a Verstappen T-shirt and cap.

13 wins this season, also a record, put Verstappen in an unassailable lead before the 17th of 22 races. The crushing dominance even surprised the Dutchman himself. “This title is the best. The first one was the most emotional because that’s where all your dreams come true. But that was my best year and I’m proud of my consistency.” Arch-rival, Mercedes driver and record world champion Lewis Hamilton also admitted: “This will be Max Verstappen’s decade.” In 2024 he wants to do more to counteract this with the Silver Arrow, which is lame this year.

“I’m still very young, I still have many good years left in me to be at the best level. It’s more about how long I want to be here,” said Verstappen, whose contract with Red Bull runs until 2028 . But the exceptional driver, who is in a relationship with Nelson Piquet’s daughter Kelly, does not shy away from new challenges. “To be honest, taking part in the Indy 500 is too dangerous for me. But I would be interested in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but only when my Formula 1 career is over,” said Verstappen, who drove the track on the Racing simulator has been crazy many times. A secret of success for him. “Even during the winter break, I regularly sit in the simulator. When I slip back into the Formula 1 car, it feels like I’ve never been away.”

Hard drill from father Jos

The talent of the century was also shaped by his father Jos, who drilled him in the kart car using tough methods. “If it rained during training, everyone went to the cafeteria, but Max had to keep driving,” remembers his sponsor Marko. It is also said that Verstappen Senior once abandoned his then 15-year-old boy at a gas station after a mistake in the championship. “Maybe I was a little too harsh sometimes. But I was really angry back then,” said the former Benetton driver.

But his son is grateful to him for that. “After his own career, he invested all his time in mine. It’s hard to explain how much he dedicated to me because I probably don’t even understand how much he did for me.”

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