Max Verstappen triumphed in the Qatar Sprint on Saturday, securing his third consecutive Formula One World Championship title.
The 26-year-old driver’s achievement marks one of the greatest seasons in the sport’s history, as he joins an exclusive list of drivers who have won three or more titles.
With only five more drivers ahead of him on the all-time championship list, Verstappen’s performance this season has been unprecedented.
Former world champion Nico Rosberg has praised Verstappen’s season, stating that “it’s unbelievable the run of form he’s had and the level that he’s driving at, the records he’s beating. Unreal.”
Rosberg went on to highlight that Verstappen is now within reach of the sport’s greatest drivers, such as Juan-Manuel Fangio, Michael Schumacher, Ayrton Senna, and Lewis Hamilton, who have won five or more titles.
Verstappen’s remarkable season has been a driving force for his team, Red Bull, and has motivated them to perform at their best.
As Rosberg explains, “It’s so motivating for those within team Red Bull to know they’ve got one of the greatest drivers of all time driving their machine. It’s such an uplifting thing and that’s what is driving them.”
Verstappen’s dominance this season has been unparalleled, having already set a new record for the most wins in a single season (15) on his way to his second title last year.
The Dutchman currently has 13 wins with six races still remaining.
Additionally, he has secured pole position for the tenth time this year, ahead of Sunday’s 57-lap Grand Prix in Qatar.
READ ALSO: https://thecrux.org.ng/kano-govt-commences-5km-of-roads-across-44-lgas/
However, Verstappen’s success has been in contrast to his teammate Sergio Perez’s struggles in the sister Red Bull RB19.
Sky F1’s Karun Chandhok likened Perez’s experience to opponents of tennis great Rafael Nadal at the French Open, where the Spaniard has won a staggering 14 times.
Despite their competitive car, Perez has been unable to match Verstappen’s performance, with Chandhok stating “It’s not been plain-sailing for Perez… That’s what it’s like being teammates with Verstappen.”
Fellow Sky F1 pundit Naomi Schiff has also acknowledged Verstappen’s extraordinary performance, stating that “as much as it is a strong car, I think he’s doing fantastic things in it.”
The Dutchman’s ability to extract the maximum from his car has been unparalleled this season, allowing him to achieve historic success in the sport.
