S Poddar
Undeniably, Max Verstappen is eventually getting his name inscribed in the history books of F1. With a bag of three world championships already netted and an unquenched thirst for victory, he, the Dutchman, is a force to be dealt with. But where does he truly stand among the sport’s immortals?
Statistics can sometimes be misleading, with different eras singled out by changing technologies in cars and different race formats. Verstappen’s win percentage, however, is a bare account of his raw talent; it puts him in very elite company, such as with legendary drivers like Hamilton, Schumacher, and Stewart.
But the truth of greatness lies beyond numbers. There have been epoch-defining drivers like Fangio, Clark, Senna, and Prost—people whose name alone seems to be able to evoke the feeling of an era of dominance—and Verstappen is right on this trajectory. His is increasingly a name uttered in the same breath as those icons.
That his qualifying performances, wet-weather mastery and ability to drag less-than-optimal cars to performance way beyond what they deserved, tally with the very best. But it is arguably since Ricciardo’s departure in particular that has made it rather easy to overlook just how he has trounced his teammates. Verstappen has been able to conserve tires while running at such blistering pace similar to Hamilton’s dominating displays, as the manner of his recent wins in supposedly less competitive machinery brings echoes of Hamilton’s wins during certain seasons.
Yet greatness is often a function of complexity. Verstappen’s aggression, sure, has been rewarded at times, but it has been responsible for a fair number of controversial moments. His uncompromising style, so redolent of Senna and Schumacher, has won him races but also cost him precious points. The line between calculated risk and reckless abandon is fine, and Verstappen has not always fallen on the right side of it.
Whereas many of his predecessors at the top proved their worth by driving for different teams, Verstappen hasn’t done that. The current dominance in which he is driving for Red Bull is impressive, but to be truly exceptional, one needs to be able to do so in different environments. Another factor yet to be observed is the nature of his relationship with his team. While he is obviously an intense competitor, the collaborative spirit often required to create a championship-winning outfit has yet to be fully revealed.
The Verstappen legend is still in the making. He has the talent, drive, and early successes to secure him a place amongst the greats, but the acid test of time is ahead. Can he really deliver consistently under pressure? Can he really adjust to situations changing around him? Can he avoid that kind of expensive error which can put his ascent on permanent hold?
Only time will tell if Verstappen can scale the pinnacle and rank among F1’s all-time great drivers. For now, he is an irresistible force, a young star whose trajectory is sure to be as exhilarating as it is unpredictable.
