Max Verstappen currently has three F1 titles to his name. No team and driver combination has ever dominated Formula 1 in the way that Red Bull and Verstappen did in 2023. He is the fastest driver on the present grid and has turned the sport into a one-man show with almost no one up to his level or skills at this moment.
Although, the same conditions and situations don’t always prevail. We have seen Max putting up a tight fight with his rivals and also with his teammate Sergio Perez on certain events, but in most cases Verstappen emerges glorious to a point where no one can challenge his dominance.
Amongst all his rivals in recent days, Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and Lando Norris (McLaren) stand out pretty prominently and are considered to be the ones who in times to come are going to beat Max Verstappen.
How many times have Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris beat Max Verstappen?
When it comes to race wins, Norris and Leclerc are nowhere close to Verstappen. Norris has 16 podiums and 1 win since his debut in 2019, Leclerc has 5 wins and 33 podiums since 2019 whereas Verstappen has 3 World Championship titles, 58 wins, and 103 podiums since his debut in 2014.
In the 2019 Belgian Grand Prix, Leclerc not only out-qualified Max Verstappen but also outperformed him to win his maiden win, followed by his second win at Monza the following weekend. His next three wins came in 2022, at the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix, Austrian Grand Prix, and Australian Grand Prix respectively, where he outshined Max Verstappen and proved his mettle.
The 2024 Miami Grand Prix, witnessed the prowess of Lando Norris, who through his tactical brilliance won his maiden F1 race. The Miami GP also witnessed a strange out-of-the-box from Verstappen, where he clattered a kerb causing considerable damage to his RB20, which affected his race results.
McLaren holds the world record for the fastest pitstop of 1.80 seconds in the history of F1 at the Qatar Grand Prix 2023. So, if this is considered then we can say McLaren beat Red Bull in one aspect.
Compared to the previous editions of F1, both Ferrari and McLaren have improved their performance in 2024. Leclerc seems to be in better sync with his team, the same with Lando Norris. Both Ferrari and McLaren are emerging as worthy contenders for both the World Championship and Constructors’ title.
Max Verstappen’s dominance with Red Bull set to end soon?
First of all, we have to keep in mind that Formula 1 has mostly been a one-man show. In the past, we have had drivers who for season after season have dominated the sport and bagged World Championships. Drivers like Michael Schumacher, Ayrton Senna, Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, and many more have all been masters of the sport.
At this point, it is the era of Max Verstappen. Whether you like it or not, it is a hard fact. This duo of Red Bull and Verstappen have been the most dominant ever in the history of F1.
It’s difficult to imagine Red Bull and Verstappen not emerging as formidable contenders for the championship in both 2024 and 2025. Consequently, there’s a significant possibility of them securing two more titles. However, if stronger competition emerges, the battle for the championship will likely be much closer, and the title’s outcome could sway in either direction.
However, the big question mark arises in 2026. It’s not solely about the new regulations; rather, it’s the debut of Red Bull Powertrains producing its in-house power unit for the first time. This presents a monumental uncertainty.
While Red Bull has made significant investments in acquiring the right talent and cutting-edge facilities, establishing an entirely new organization, and developing technology from scratch, it’s far from guaranteed that a startup non-manufacturer power unit supplier can thrive in Formula 1. This uncertainty represents a significant potential obstacle, one that Verstappen has no control over.
With the exit of Adrian Newey from Red Bull in 2025, and rumors going around of Newey joining Ferrari to work with Hamilton, or (candidly) meeting with Zak Brown in Monaco or being in touch with Lawrence Stroll, CEO of Aston Martin; can we expect a speed brake in Red Bull and Verstappen’s performance and outcome? Well, all this is too early to predict!