Max Verstappen’s rise to dominance in Formula 1 has been nothing short of spectacular. Since joining Red Bull in 2016, the Dutch driver has quickly transformed from a promising young talent to one of the most feared competitors on the grid. With an unmatched combination of speed, skill, and consistency, Verstappen has redefined what it means to be a world champion. After securing his 4th title in 2024, with a race still left on the calendar, he further cemented his legacy as one of F1’s all-time greats.

It started in 2021 after Red Bull made some big changes to their car. Verstappen wasn’t just winning races—he was dominating, securing his first title. That was only the beginning: in 2022, he racked up 15 wins, and in 2023, 19. This year, he took his 4th title with a race still left on the calendar. Though it wasn’t as dominant a season as his previous ones, Verstappen joined the ranks of legends like Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel, making it to the elite 4-time champions group. Who wouldn’t be proud to have been his teammate?

Daniel Ricciardo is puffed with pride!

Daniel Ricciardo has got to be Formula One’s biggest “what if” story. The 8-time F1 race winner and former Red Bull driver was steadily on the rise, even finishing 3rd in the drivers’ rankings twice (2014, 2016) and grabbing three wins in 2014. But in 2019, Ricciardo made a bold move, leaving Red Bull for Renault. It was a decision that marked the start of a difficult chapter—six years later, he’s won only one race and doesn’t even have a ride anymore.

Meanwhile, his old team has gone on to dominate. From the moment Max Verstappen joined Red Bull in 2016, he became the team’s shining star. The transition was clear—while Ricciardo was still performing, Verstappen’s raw talent was impossible to ignore. After Ricciardo’s exit in 2019, Verstappen’s trajectory went into overdrive. Ricciardo’s bittersweet farewell to Red Bull has made it even clearer: he could have been part of their golden era. Now, with Verstappen’s recent win of his 4th F1 championship, Ricciardo has stepped forward with a heartfelt message, acknowledging the rise of the “Bad Man” of F1.

Ricciardo in an emotional Instagram video celebrated Verstappen’s success, he said, “Max, you are a bad man. Four in a row, it’s awesome dude. Really really happy for you and you have been flawless and freaking pretty spectacular. Yeah, obviously Brazil is a recent obvious one which was insane, yeah that was very much 2016. Long story short, you are the man and enjoy the fourth!”

It wasn’t just Ricciardo expressing his admiration. Pierre Gasly, who replaced Ricciardo at Red Bull in 2019, also praised Verstappen, saying, “Just wanna congratulate you on your fourth world championship. You’re like an old wine who keeps getting better year after year.” Even Carlos Sainz, who raced alongside Verstappen in Toro Rosso, had his own playful message: “Congrats on this fourth world title. Slow down a bit next year!”

Verstappen responded with humility, saying, “Ah that’s very nice. That’s a nice touch. Very good.” Well, speaking of next season, before that comes we have to complete the current one. And Max Verstappen might set another personal best in the upcoming race.

Max Verstappen is en route to break his own record

While Verstappen’s 2023 championship win is a huge milestone, he’s not slowing down just yet. The 27-year-old driver is eyeing even more records before the season ends. He recently secured his 9th win of the season in Qatar—another triumph that shows he’s still got the competitive fire, even in a season where McLaren has closed the gap on Red Bull.

“I am very happy with that. It’s been a long time since we had victory in the dry and it’s great for the team to be so competitive again,” Verstappen said after his Qatar win.

But he’s got his sights set on something even special: breaking his own record for the most consecutive wins at a single track. After winning the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for the 4th year in a row, Verstappen is now aiming for a 5th. If he achieves that, he’ll tie Lewis Hamilton for the most wins at Abu Dhabi.

And let’s not forget, Verstappen is also on track to match Michael Schumacher’s record of 5 consecutive titles—a feat that would elevate him to a whole new level in F1 history. Max with his 4th, has already matched Hamilton’s when he won from 2017 to 2020.

With all these records and accomplishments, one question remains: will Verstappen’s dominance continue next season? As Ricciardo and his former teammates celebrate Verstappen’s achievements, it’s clear that the young Dutchman is only getting started. It’s a thrilling time for F1 fans, and the excitement over Verstappen’s future seems endless.

Do you think Max Verstappen will win a 5th title next season? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!