It is official, the Formula One world champion for the 2024 season is none other than the Max Verstappen. This is the fourth year in a row now that he has claimed the title, and deservingly so. Even people who are not fans of Max, have to admit he may be the greatest driver that F1 has ever laid its eyes on. With nearly the perfect season in 2023, people thought it could not get any better, with all but three races won by him, two of those being won by his teammate. In 2023 Max also broke the record for most consecutive Formula One wins, breaking a record set by Sebastian Vettel for 9 races straight during Red Bull’s original dominance. Max won 10 straight races in a row, with his streak being broken in a historic race, by Carlos Sainz with Ferrari. People were shocked, I was shocked.
But nobody was as shocked as the entirety of the fanbase was when they realized that the dominance of Red Bull might have been ending at the beginning of 2024. You see, rumors had been all over the internet during the winter break, detailing issues happening inside Red Bull that I won’t define too deeply, but consisted of personnel issues as well as engineering issues. Once the season had started and scandal brewed, Max started strongly with two race wins. People were doubting the validity of everything being said in the paddock. Then Carlos won another race, and people started asking questions. His brakes caught on fire? Something was wrong the whole time? Nobody listened to him? Things slowed though, and Max won another two races. His teammate however was severely underperforming.
With this, the McLaren team started to catch up, and Lando Norris had his maiden win in Miami, thanks to a conveniently timed safety car.The season progressed, and it became apparent that Lando was a championship contender. He was gaining entire seconds on Max in one lap. He was beating him in lesser machinery. Lando was driving so phenomenally that he was forcing Max to break the rules to win. The year was all mixed up though, and with neither driver winning consistently, it was becoming increasingly unclear who would come out on top. McLaren even began interfering, making their other driver, Oscar Piastri, sacrifice his own wins for Norris to gain on Verstappen. And McLaren was beating Red Bull, in the constructors championship.
Somewhere along the way, something slipped for McLaren, their success wavering, becoming more intermittent. One thing about Verstappen is that he thrives under pressure. He was back. Driving ruthlessly.The thing about the Driver’s Championship is that it is based on math. So even though it was hard to watch, we all saw Lando’s chances slowly slip from his grasp, until it was mathematically impossible for him to close the gap. At the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix, Verstappen won his fourth championship. The year isn’t over though. There is one more race, and this year it will be particularly emotional. Teams are saying goodbye to drivers who have stood with them for years, and other drivers who will never see the grid again. And maybe, just maybe, McLaren will lick their wounds and cherish a constructor’s win.Their first since 1998.