Even better, more sophisticated, more mature and more consistent. Max Verstappen proves in 2023 that he continues to develop himself. Bad news for the rest of the field, because there is no saturation at all. The now 26-year-old Dutchman is one of the greatest drivers ever. Not only because of his third title in a row, but also because of the way in which he has shaped a world sport like Formula 1.
Three thousandths of a second. That was the difference between Max Verstappen and his old rival Lewis Hamilton, when the Briton stole pole position from him at the Hungaroring on a Saturday in July. No man went overboard given Verstappen’s already very comfortable lead in the World Cup standings. And it was only about qualifying, but anyone who analyzed Verstappen’s reaction afterwards and heard him complaining over the on-board radio might have thought that he had just lost the championship.
It is Verstappen in a nutshell, even in a very dominant season in which he has often relegated the other nineteen drivers to filling the field. It always has to be perfect, or at least almost perfect. The title race doesn’t count at such a moment. By the way, Verstappen won by force majeure in Budapest the next day, after he had already taken the lead in the first corner. But that’s besides the point.
Collective memory
In Dutch sports history, an individual athlete has never commented on what Verstappen does. And not just for a moment, but for years. In fact, that is separate from his world titles. Don’t forget the fan base he has already built up for his great successes and how he has established his name in Formula 1 in record time. For the public, it is also about the experience, about the character of a top athlete, about getting into the collective memory. come. Just like Johan Cruijff did in 1974 with the Dutch national team, without ultimately becoming world champion. Dropping one legacy , to use a term that is admittedly subject to inflation. Verstappen is a world class at its best and it is sometimes perhaps underestimated how good he is in Formula 1.
Critics have sometimes dismissed Verstappen as an overly aggressive driver for years, but those who do not have the best equipment sometimes have to take more risks to achieve the best result and build a reputation. With a dominant car, he is showing this year how much he has grown as a driver, by avoiding problems and realizing that he will make up for any deficit later. It may sound easy, but consider keeping that overview in one split second .
Self-criticism
Another point of criticism from some outsiders in previous years: Verstappen is said to have no self-criticism. But take one of the few mistakes he made this year, during Q3 in qualifying for the Miami Grand Prix. On that Saturday, the Limburger chokes, after which he aborts his first fast lap. A second attempt falls through due to a crash by Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc. Verstappen can of course very easily point this out afterwards, but he sticks to his own bosom and talks purely and solely about his own slip-ups.
He also wins that race a day later, but that is completely beside the point. The Grand Prix on May 7 also marks the beginning of the end for teammate Sergio Pérez this season. From that moment on, Verstappen wins ten (!) races in a row and is the best version of himself almost every week, even if the RB19 exceptionally shows some problems.
Historical rounds
The fact that an experienced driver like Pérez, who has often been complimented in the past, falls through the ice in that car, also shows that Verstappen makes the RB19 look even better. Just as he also displayed his astonishing driving skills in historic qualifying rounds in Monaco and, for example, recently in Japan. Then no one can say that it is purely the car that is so good.
Especially in a sport like Formula 1, a mistake is easily made. Verstappen’s unprecedented, consistent performance curve is a major achievement. The Australian Grand Prix – the third race of 2022 – was the last race in which he did not score any points.
Personality
He has of course matured as a person, but basically he is still the same Max as the boy without a driver’s license who made his debut on behalf of Toro Rosso in 2015. It is rarely boring around Verstappen. That personality is a reason that should not be underestimated that thousands of Dutch people fly across the world to see him drive around a circuit in the flesh. And that’s probably not going to change anytime soon. Verstappen’s hunger is far from satisfied.