Particularly the leading protagonists –the big guns – such is their exclusive status and Superman-esque powers behind the wheel. But as the clock struck midnight in Sin City on Sunday, the man in Max Verstappen’s ear spoke with a distinct clarity of thought when asked about his driver’s brilliant charge to a fourth F1 crown.
What makes the Dutchman, a four-time world champion at 27, unique? “What you hear on the broadcast is not necessarily Max, it’s just his adrenaline at the time,” said Verstappen’s race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase in a rare television interview after the Las Vegas Grand Prix. “As much as he’s got bravado, he will absorb every piece of information. That’s his real strength.”
From a previous group of a dozen, in securing his fourth title Verstappen joins a club altogether more exclusive. Only five other drivers have won at least four F1 world championships: Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton (seven), Juan Manuel Fangio (five) and Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel (four).
Love him or loathe him, F1’s ultimate Marmite figure is now indisputably among the all-time greats.
Yet this year tested the indomitable Verstappen in more ways than one. Off-track, the soap opera maelstrom which engulfed Red Bull at the start of the season saw his dad Jos and boss Christian Horner in a highly-publicised dispute. On-track, Red Bull have not had the quickest car since race six and, for a period, were clearly the fourth-quickest team on the grid.
Yet Verstappen has come through all of it – speculation over his future at Red Bull, squabbles in the cockpit with closest challenger and friend Lando Norris and even the FIA looking to quash his forthright, sometimes foul-mouthed, language – to seal the title with two races left.
Denne historien er fra November 26, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra November 26, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Kyrgios to return but keeps focus on Sinner and Swiatek
Nick Kyrgios just wants to speak his truth, man. He does, after all, have his own podcast to go along with his blue tick on X/Twitter, where he is not afraid to add a hot take or two to the big topics. It's hardly a new development.
Slot eyes strong second half as Reds dream of quadruple
Arne Slot did not use the word, though Jurgen Klopp became quite familiar with it.
Isak stars as Newcastle expose Arsenal's failings
A night that was about whether you could take your chances; for goals, and maybe for finals.
Britons splurge £13bn on festive fun – but inflation may leave a nasty hangover
UK retail outlet Next has posted another rise in sales ahead of expectations over the Christmas period, but warned that a price increase is on the cards for 2025 as it looks to overcome raised costs following last year's Budget.
Next posts rise in sales but warns of difficult year ahead
UK retail outlet Next has posted another rise in sales ahead of expectations over the Christmas period, but warned that a price increase is on the cards for 2025 as it looks to overcome raised costs following last year's Budget.
Carney failed to stop Brexit but hopes to save Canada
Mark Carney may enter the race to succeed Justin Trudeau as leader of Canada's Liberal Party.
Trump fails to rule out use of force to take Greenland
US president-elect Donald Trump has refused to rule out using military or economic action to pursue acquisition of the Panama Canal and Greenland.
At least 126 dead in Tibet after powerful earthquake
A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck the foothills of the Himalayas yesterday near one of Tibet’s holiest cities, killing at least 126 people and flattening hundreds of houses and causing tremors felt in Nepal, Bhutan and India.
Far-right firebrand's ghost will loom large over Europe
The death of Jean-Marie Le Pen should give us a moment to ponder the long march of the French far right and the rise to power of fascistic parties across Europe.
French far-right political leader Le Pen dies at 96
Unrepentant bigot and Holocaust denier Jean-Marie Le Pen founded the National Front and fought for populist policies
