“I’m not just sitting behind like a grandma,” said Max Verstappen while chasing his rival Lewis Hamilton in 2020. Verstappen has never just ‘sat behind’. It is not in his DNA. Coming from a racing family, with his dad Joe Verstappen having an 8-year Formula 1 career, he learned the ropes at a young age. The Dutch star made his F1 debut at just 17 years old, the youngest to ever do so. Now, at 27, he maintains a seemingly unstoppable streak.

For the better part of half a decade, Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes were unstoppable. Then, everything changed when a fresh-faced Verstappen burst onto the scene in 2015. Since then, he has lit the F1 stage on fire and roared to four consecutive titles from 2021 to 2024. Despite the elaborated conversation around the legitimacy of his first title in 2021, his records speak for themselves. One record in particular stands out, highlighting his consistency and proficiency from a young age.

Many F1 fans applauded Max Verstappen for the achievement

The Belgian Grand Prix in 2016 was iconic for multiple reasons. It was the first of Nico Rosberg’s three-race win streak in his title-winning 2016 campaign where he beat teammate Lewis Hamilton to the championship. It was also the last time Verstappen ever crossed the finish line outside the points! Yes, you read that right. It has been nine years since Mad Max ever finished a race outside the top 10. He either DNFs or finishes the race with some points to take back home.

Granted, in 2018 he was classified in 15th, but he had retired because of a brake issue in the British GP. Later on during the heated title race in 2021, he suffered from a puncture in Baku while leading during the final few laps, which put him out of the race. He was distraught that day and kicked the tired in frustration as he made his way off the track. He did go on to win the championship that season after a last-lap overtake in the last race of the season.

Since then he hasn’t looked back. So, as we take a look back on his amazing achievement, it is worth noting that Verstappen was just 18 years old during the Belgian GP in 2016. The now 27-year-old is at the peak of his career after breaking multiple F1 records along the way. However, this one seemed to resonate most with fans as they were full of praise for the Red Bull driver.

Of course, a fair number of people praised Verstappen’s talent. They acknowledged that he is an incredible driver and on his way to becoming a legend in his own right. Understandably, many are not fans of his aggressive nature, but even they could not deny his greatness. One F1 fan mused, “A phenomenon.. love him or hate him, he is an F1 phenomenon.” Someone else agreed with the sentiment, “As much as people may not like this guy, you cannot deny he is becoming one of the all time greats.”

Another fan even posed a fairly valid question about Max Verstappen. They wrote, “I wonder how long it will take us to realize he is one of the best in the history of the sport.” These statements are not just blind praise for a 4-time World Champion. Their substantial value stems from the way he has won his championships. In 2022 and 2023, Max Verstappen went consecutive years, breaking the record for most wins in an F1 season with 15 in 2022 and 19 in 2023.

Others were quick to shower praise on how mind-boggling this streak is, writing, “That’s a little bit insane but what an actual goat.” Some also looked to the future and wrote, “If he keeps going, he will be the highest point scorer in F1 history.” Max currently stands third in the all-time points list, which is wild to think about because he hasn’t even hit 30 yet. With 3023.5 points, Max is only behind a retired Sebastien Vettel and 40-year-old Lewis Hamilton on the all-time list, so this fan’s prediction could very well come true.

Finally, one fan declared, “Best driver to grace this sport in terms of talent.”Not that anyone can blame them for thinking that. Verstappen is a hugely talented driver and his 63 wins are definite proof of it. Needless to say, his mentality on the tracks backs up his talent as he always looks for the win.

Initially, many would have attributed his success to the all-conquering Red Bull. However, in 2024, the Red Bull package was not very quick. So when he won his fourth title, he fought tooth and nail to earn it over a hard-charging Lando Norris at McLaren.

The Red Bull star is hoping to make it five in a row

After fending off a resurgent McLaren and Lando Norris, Verstappen, and Red Bull might be on the back foot in 2025. Speaking on the challenge of winning the 2025 championship, Verstappen said, “It’s not always been the easiest for us as a team and to come away with that championship… I really felt it when I crossed the line in Vegas, I was like ‘it’s done’! It’s been challenging at times, but I’m very proud of how we handled everything.” In 2025, he looks to emulate the great Michael Schumacher by winning five in a row. The German icon won his five from 2000 to 2004, driving for Ferrari.

This year, he has a new teammate, Liam Lawson, who replaced an underperforming Sergio Perez. In all honesty, it’s not been the best time to be a secondary Red Bull driver. However, Lawson is a Kiwi talent who has impressed everyone in his short stint so far. He notched up a 9th place finish in Singapore in 2023 and two 9th place finishes in Brazil and the United States in 2024.

Lawson was recruited after a struggling Daniel Ricciardo was axed mid-season in 2023. In a similar vein, Perez somehow lasted the entire season, despite his struggles. His form was so bad that he was nearly 300 points adrift of Verstappen, and it cost them the Constructor’s championship. When the 2024 season ended, there was much speculation about Perez’s future, before Red Bull finally lost their patience.

Now, Verstappen and Lawson are gearing up for a tough season ahead. Hot on their heels are Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri in McLaren, and Mercedes duo, George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli. However, the biggest and the most blockbuster threat has to be Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari. Who do you think will take home the F1 Championship in 2025?