“This is magic,” that’s what Fernando Alonso had to say after being treated to a Max Verstappen masterclass at Monaco in 2023. More than a year later and the Dutchman has done it again! The Dutch superstar has claimed his fourth consecutive Formula 1 World Championship, fending off fierce competition from McLaren’s Lando Norris in a rollercoaster 2024 season. But this wasn’t your typical dominant Red Bull year—far from it. With his team facing challenges and rivals closing the gap, Verstappen had to dig deep to prove why he’s one of the best to ever do it.

Of course, it wouldn’t be an F1 season without some off-track fireworks. When Max Verstappen boldly claimed he could’ve won the title in Norris’s McLaren, Lando didn’t hold back, saying Max should “start doing comedy.” Add to that a few spicy comments from McLaren boss Zak Brown earlier this year, and you’ve got all the ingredients for a solid rivalry. However, even Zak has to now rethink his stance on Verstappen’s greatness.

Zak Brown eats his words as Max Verstappen proves him wrong

Let’s rewind to about six months ago. Zak Brown stirred the pot when he suggested Verstappen couldn’t win a championship without having the best car. Back then, Red Bull was still looking untouchable, and Brown’s comment raised more than a few eyebrows. But as the season progressed and McLaren’s car became a genuine contender, Max Verstappen proved he’s more than just a fast car. Despite being good friends off track, Lando Norris also had a lot to say after Max claimed he could’ve wrapped up the title in this year’s McLaren. “He can say whatever he wants, but it’s not true,” Norris fired back. “I know what Max is capable of, and I like his confidence, but… no.”

The numbers tell a mixed story. Red Bull dominated early on, but McLaren’s late-season upgrades turned their car into a rocket ship. Norris admitted that McLaren had the edge for most of the second half of the season, but Max had already built an insurmountable lead by then. “He might be able to take a car that’s third quickest and win it,” Brown admitted recently. “But you’ve got to have the car, then you also have to have the driver.”

This referred to the glaring errors Max Verstappen faced in the middle of the season. After his win at the 2024 Spanish GP, the Flying Dutchman went on a 10-race winless streak. What started in Miami with Norris’ debut win turned into a full-fledged battle for the title halfway through June. At one point in time, Verstappen found the RB20 at a slower pace than the Mercedes, a team that constantly struggled with the ground-effect era. Combine that with Lewis Hamilton’s resurgence with multiple wins and Verstappen was the third fastest car on the track. Despite giving Verstappen credit, Brown made sure he didn’t get carried away with the praise.

He added, “If Max was in a car that’s not capable of winning, he’ll get a little bit more out of it because of how awesome he is. But he’s not going to take a car that’s 15th and win in it.” While the Flying Dutchman proved he could go from 17th on the grid to 1st place, Brown was quick to give equal credit to Red Bull’s car in the ground effect era. After all, the RB19 won 21 out of the 22 races (the Emilia Romagna GP didn’t take place due to rain.) It was only after a bad upgrade that came at the 2023 Spanish GP that things started going downhill for the Milton-Keynes outfit.

Red Bull’s struggles and Verstappen’s standout season

This season wasn’t smooth sailing for Red Bull. After years of dominating, 2024 threw some serious curveballs their way. The car struggled to keep up with McLaren and Ferrari at times, and Sergio Perez’s consistently inconsistent performances left Verstappen to carry the team solo. “He has to do all his work on his own, which is hats off to him,” Norris said, acknowledging the unique challenges Verstappen faced this year.

Despite these hurdles, Verstappen was relentless. His consistency—qualifying an average of 2.5 compared to Norris’s 3.7—and ability to perform under pressure made all the difference like in Brazil where he put on a world champion’s wet weather masterclass to win from 17th on the grid. While Norris and Piastri traded wins at McLaren against Ferrari and Mercedes, Verstappen kept racking up points, staying in the mix even when the car wasn’t the fastest.

Critics who once claimed Verstappen’s titles were just a product of Red Bull’s dominance were silenced. This season proved he’s more than capable of winning under tough circumstances, cementing his place alongside legends like Sebastian Vettel and Alain Prost as a four-time world champion. Even his longtime rival, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc couldn’t help but applaud Max’s skill. “Max is an incredible driver,” he said. “What makes him special is his confidence and ability to push beyond limits.”

As the season wraps up, McLaren is leading the constructors’ championship race against Ferrari, with Red Bull an ever-growing third. But the bigger story is Verstappen’s resilience. He showed once again that even without a perfect car, he’s a force to be reckoned with—and if his rivals didn’t know it before they sure do now.