How can he get higher, if in any respect?
WB: For me, 2024 ranks as Verstappen’s most interesting hour and best-won world championship. He did not simply see off a singular rival, he weathered the inner storms at his group which had existed from earlier than the season even started, endured racing a automobile which had slumped from being unbeatable to nigh on undriveable and all at a time when three rival groups discovered the tempo to win and Verstappen needed to take care of being the only constant points-scorer for his group. To hold that burden alone, to place within the race drives he has, and to emerge as world champion, is the stuff of legend. And, worryingly for his rivals, he will get higher nearly each weekend.
LB: There have been glimpses of chinks within the Verstappen armour this yr, probably the most vivid of which got here on the Mexican Grand Prix when battling Norris. After robustly defending from the McLaren driver however finally shedding the place and choosing up a 10-second penalty, Verstappen let the crimson mist descend a couple of corners later and dived down the within. He didn’t come shut to creating the nook and compelled Norris off-track, antics that triggered one other time penalty. It was a uncommon lapse in an in any other case positive season. If he irons these chinks out, he’s nicely on his strategy to turning into some of the full drivers F1 has ever seen.
CM: No person’s good and the entire greats had their flaws, and Verstappen can positively enhance. He misplaced his cool in Budapest this yr, so can nonetheless develop into that little bit extra managed when issues aren’t going nicely. Equally, he’s normally so good at racing proper on the sting of the rules with out breaking them, however had a couple of events – notably in Mexico Metropolis – the place he went that bit too far. But it surely may very well be argued these indiscretions nonetheless had a constructive impression on his title hopes given the best way they held Norris up in that race, and that’s a ruthlessness that works for him even when it won’t at all times result in reward.
AJ: He is taken a distinct examination this season to show sixth place into second with a view to blunt his rivals’ title momentum and that could be a uncommon ability, utterly completely different from changing poles into wins, in order that was one other enchancment displayed. With the foundations on wheel-to-wheel fight anticipated to vary from 2024 to 2025, it will likely be attention-grabbing to see if his uncompromising strategy on this division needs to be altered.
JP: By way of means he’s received every thing and he’s according to it, there simply aren’t any weaknesses. The one factor I’d personally prefer to see is him racing barely fairer within the warmth of a championship battle. You might argue that that is an asset of his, to be ruthless as nicely and push the bounds, however he actually does that greater than different title contenders in latest reminiscence.
