For the fourth consecutive year, Red Bull’s star driver Max Verstappen has secured the Formula 1 World Championship. A fifth-place finish at the Las Vegas Grand Prix was all he needed to outpace his closest rival, Lando Norris, and clinch the title. This milestone places Verstappen in elite company, as he becomes just the sixth driver in F1 history to win four or more championships.
This latest triumph was anything but easy for Verstappen. He began the 2024 season on a dominant note, winning seven of the first ten races. However, after his victory at the Spanish Grand Prix, he endured a winless streak lasting 10 races, finally breaking the drought with a victory in São Paulo, Brazil.
Reflecting on the challenging season, Verstappen shared, “It’s been a long year. We had an incredible start; it felt almost effortless, but then things got tough. As a team, we stayed focused, worked on improvements, and came back stronger. Right now, I feel relieved but also incredibly proud.”
During his winless run, McLaren’s Lando Norris closed the gap in the championship standings as Red Bull struggled to maintain their early-season dominance. Adding to the pressure, McLaren CEO Zak Brown engaged in some mind games, taking a jab at Verstappen on the Beyond the Grid podcast. “I don’t think Max wins the world championship in any car other than the Red Bull,” Brown remarked.
Verstappen appeared to use this criticism as motivation. After securing the title, he didn’t shy away from firing back at Brown. While celebrating with his team, Verstappen took a direct jab at the McLaren boss as Brown passed by the paddock to congratulate him. “And as you said, I could only win in the fastest car,” Verstappen quipped. Dutch journalist Erik van Haren later reported another comment from Verstappen, delivered after celebratory drinks. “Would I have won the championship in a McLaren? Yes, and much earlier too. I could have even won in 2021 with a different car.”
This season wasn’t smooth sailing for Verstappen, as he faced challenges adapting to the RB20. Unlike the dominant RB19 of 2023, the RB20 struggled midway through the season, falling behind Ferrari and Mercedes in certain races. McLaren, however, seemed to be on a different level entirely, with their car showing remarkable pace and setting them up as favorites for the Constructors’ Championship. The team’s resurgence has been one of the highlights of the new ground-effect era, transforming them from backmarkers to title contenders.
Despite these obstacles, Verstappen’s tenacity shone through, and fans rallied behind him after his bold comments toward the McLaren camp. Compared to his record-breaking 2023 season, when he won 19 of 22 races, the 2024 campaign had more ups and downs. Nevertheless, Verstappen remained a cut above the competition. As one fan put it, “People forget how dominant Red Bull was at the start of the season. McLaren took time to catch up, but Max was exceptional all year.”
While champagne celebrations are a given in F1, the Red Bull team undoubtedly took their festivities to another level after sealing their fourth straight championship. Verstappen’s fiery response to Zak Brown may have been fueled by the moment’s exhilaration—and perhaps a bit of celebratory liquor.
