For a young driver in his third season in Formula One and just out of his teens, it might seem an unfeasibly early time to be anointing Max Verstappen as a future world champion. Yet within hours of ensuring his own position among the greats with a fourth title, Lewis Hamilton singled out the 20-year-old as the future of F1. It was a champion’s endorsement of a champion in waiting, one who firmly believes he is ready to take over from the old guard.
Verstappen had claimed his second win of the season in Mexico, where Hamilton had secured his title, when the Briton hailed him as an exceptional driver. “You’ve got a potential world champion within Max and he’s only going to get stronger with age,” he said. “He has a lot of raw talent and has got a long way to go but these wins, these experiences, are only adding to his great potential. I’m looking forward to battling with that.”
That it will be a battle, Verstappen has made clear from the start of his career in F1. He is uncompromising, fearless and not intimidated by going wheel to wheel with world champions.
On his debut for Toro Rosso at Australia in 2015 he was 17, not old enough to drive legally on the road. But in an F1 car he served notice of what was to come. At Spa that year he went round the outside of Blanchimont to pass Felipe Nasr. Overtaking through the long, high-speed corner is unheard of, yet Verstappen hung it out on the edge, put two wheels off the track and held control to out-brake Nasr into the chicane and take the place.
It was breathtaking stuff but in keeping with someone who has huge confidence. Several weeks later, Verstappen passed his driving test on his 18th birthday. The examiner picked him on two issues. “Both times I didn’t give way,” Verstappen said. “But from my perspective the other driver was so far away. So, that was the examiner’s opinion. The other time there were people crossing, but they were not even close to the edge of the road. Again, that was my opinion against his. But I got my licence.”
It is indicative of a young man with unerring self-belief. He is unafraid to have an opinion and reluctant to back down, a trait recognisable in some of the most successful drivers. At times it is a characteristic that could be tempered. His defence against Kimi Räikkönen on the Kemmel straight at Spa in 2016, which he refused to accept was dangerous, was one such incident. But it is part of the makeup that means he is recognised as world champion material.
As the former driver and Channel Four F1 presenter David Coulthard said: “If you don’t have conviction of your position then the chances are you are not able to make decisions. At 19 he looked more ready than I was at 30. I would take his talent, his commitment and speed and smooth out the rough edges rather than have a finessed version of not quite good enough. He will have a slightly different view and vision when he is older but right now he shouldn’t be anything other than what he is.”
Promoted to Red Bull in 2016, he won on his debut for the team at the Spanish Grand Prix. Although the season was far from perfect, some standout performances – such as in Brazil in the wet – left few in doubt that Coulthard’s assessment is spot on.
This season has shown further maturity. After a terrible opening in an off-the-pace Red Bull that included five DNFs in seven races, there was open frustration with the team. Verstappen gathered himself, however, and has finished well. Red Bull know it and have re-signed him.
In Abu Dhabi he stressed that every season has made him stronger. “I’ve improved but in general it’s all about experience,” he said. “If you haven’t really raced a lot in lower categories and you make the jump to Formula One you have to learn in Formula One and a lot more people are watching. The speed was already there last year.”
There have been errors, notably, having lost a place to his team-mate, Daniel Ricciardo, at Hungary, he then hit him braking too late. He did apologise but it illustrated Verstappen’s driving style: decisive and aggressive.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Hamilton has said he must raise his game to stay ahead and Coulthard agrees. “These guys arrive with natural speed,” he said. “They don’t get faster but they get wiser and more mature. Max has strength, determination, absolute focus and maturity beyond his years.”
It has put Verstappen in the same rarified bracket as those he now challenges. “This sport and elite sport is about finding the exceptional, who can do exceptional things,” Coulthard said, echoing Hamilton’s description of Formula One’s coming man.
