In a season marked by fits and starts, both on and off the track, Max Verstappen has finally clinched his fourth consecutive world title. Relive Max’s Year in a nutshell, from the dispute in Bahrain to the jackpot in Las Vegas.
GP Bahrain: A Flashy Start in the Eye of the Storm
The season begins in Bahrain with a massive scandal involving Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, who is accused of overstepping boundaries. Max Verstappen, seemingly the only one to keep his cool, wins ahead of teammate Sergio Pérez. A dazzling double victory!
GP Saudi Arabia: Red Bull’s First Double Victory
A new dominant season for Red Bull is shaping up as Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez score their second one-two finish in their second race of the season. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) is absent due to acute appendicitis. His replacement, debutant Oliver Bearman, finishes seventh.
GP Australia: Retirement Due to Brake Problems
Carlos Sainz celebrates his return to the grid after an appendectomy with his fourth Formula 1 victory. Max Verstappen loses valuable championship points due to his retirement because of brake problems. Behind Sainz, Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris (McLaren) finish second and third.
GP Japan: Verstappen in a Class of His Own
Max Verstappen convincingly wins the Grand Prix of Japan! The championship leader crosses the finish line first with a gap of over 12 seconds. Sergio Pérez finishes – once again – in second place, with Carlos Sainz in third.
GP China: Flawless Weekend for Verstappen
The GP of China is – for the first time – claimed by Max Verstappen, despite two safety car situations during the race. A day earlier, the Red Bull driver had also won the sprint race.
GP Miami: Norris Claims First Victory, Verstappen Takes Second
It was a celebration for McLaren and Lando Norris in Miami. In his 111th F1 race, the Brit claimed his first victory. He was fortunate when the safety car did not pick him up mid-race. Max Verstappen secured the second place.
GP Emilia-Romagna: Verstappen Equals Ayrton Senna’s Record
For the third time in his career, Max Verstappen won the GP of Emilia-Romagna in Imola. He did so from pole position, his eighth in a row, equalling Ayrton Senna’s record. After a comeback race from Norris, Verstappen’s lead at the finish was only 0.725 seconds.
GP Monaco: Sixth Place in a Dull Parade
Finally, Charles Leclerc won the GP in his hometown of Monaco. It happened in a dull parade, with Max Verstappen finishing sixth. After eight races, Leclerc is only 31 points behind Verstappen. The race was marred by a severe start crash involving Kevin Magnussen and Sergio Pérez.
GP Canada: Verstappen Keeps His Cool in the Rain
The ninth race of the Formula 1 season went to Max Verstappen. In a race full of incidents and wet conditions, he managed to stay ahead of Norris and Mercedes driver George Russell. “It was a crazy race, but we kept our cool,” Verstappen said afterwards.
GP Spain: Winner in Strategic Battle
The race at Circuit de Catalunya, where Max Verstappen achieved his first F1 victory in 2016, is primarily a strategic battle. Ultimately, Verstappen and Red Bull emerge as the strongest. Verstappen keeps Norris behind him. Lewis Hamilton also finally returns to the podium.
GP Austria: First Clash between Verstappen and Norris
Not the favorite, Max Verstappen, but George Russell claims the race at the Red Bull Ring. He essentially receives the victory as a gift, as Verstappen and Norris eliminate each other in the final stages of the race. Norris drops out due to the clash, while Verstappen ultimately finishes fifth.
GP United Kingdom: Verstappen in the British Sandwich
Max Verstappen is heavily besieged by the British media in the run-up to the British GP due to the clash with Lando Norris in Austria and his alleged overly aggressive driving behavior. Verstappen is provoked and finishes ahead of Norris, but behind winner Lewis Hamilton on the podium.
GP Hungary: Piastri Allowed to Win by McLaren, Verstappen P5
Oscar Piastri is allowed by the McLaren team management to win his first F1 race. Teammate Norris has to let Piastri pass in the final stages of the race. Max Verstappen has a difficult afternoon, complains about the balance in his car, and only finishes fifth.
GP Belgium: From Grid Penalty to Fourth Place
Starting from P11 due to a grid penalty for an engine change, Max Verstappen manages to climb to fourth place. George Russell crosses the finish line first, but is later disqualified because his Mercedes is under the weight limit. As a result, Lewis Hamilton is declared the winner.
GP Netherlands: No Longer Undefeated in Zandvoort
For the first time since the return of Formula 1 to the Netherlands, Max Verstappen fails to win the race in front of his home crowd. This time, the honor goes to Lando Norris. Verstappen’s second place, given the car he has, is a significant achievement.
GP Italy: Lack of Speed Painfully Evident
The RB20’s lack of speed becomes painfully evident in Monza. Max Verstappen is unable to make a stand and finishes no higher than sixth place. The silver lining is that Norris doesn’t fare much better, finishing in third place, behind winner Charles Leclerc and Norris’ teammate Oscar Piastri.
GP Azerbaijan: A Difficult Task in Baku
Another challenging race for Max Verstappen, this time in the streets of Baku. The championship leader complains about a lack of grip and has to settle for fifth place. The race is won by Oscar Piastri. Norris, starting from P15, finishes just off the podium in fourth place.
GP Singapore: Second Place is the Best Verstappen Could Achieve
Max Verstappen returns to the podium in Singapore. He spends almost the entire race behind Lando Norris, right up to the finish line. In the final stages, Norris makes a few minor mistakes, but without major consequences. Verstappen calls P2 the best possible outcome. Piastri finishes third.
GP United States: Norris and Verstappen Clash Again
Charles Leclerc wins the GP of the United States, but the post-race discussion is dominated by the intense duels between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris. Due to an illegal overtaking maneuver, the Brit has to eventually concede his third place to Verstappen. Carlos Sainz finishes second, ahead of Verstappen.
GP Mexico: Stewards Come Down Hard on Verstappen
Carlos Sainz caps off a flawless race with his fourth Formula 1 victory. Verstappen and Norris clash again. This time, the stewards impose a twenty-second time penalty on Verstappen, resulting in a sixth-place finish. Norris is flagged off second.
GP São Paulo: Masterful Masterclass in Brazilian Rain
A masterful masterclass in the rain from Max Verstappen. The Dutchman starts from P17, but showcases his exceptional skills on the wet São Paulo track by still winning the race. Pole-sitter Lando Norris only finishes sixth. It’s a moral blow for the British title rival.
GP Las Vegas: Jackpot! Fourth World Title Secured!
Max Verstappen secures his fourth consecutive world title in the gambling capital of the world. With this, he equals the number of world titles held by Sebastian Vettel and Alain Prost.
