Max Verstappen successfully defended his Formula 1 drivers’ title in 2024. He’s now won the last four championships, leaving him just one short of Michael Schumacher’s record streak at the start of the millennium.
But this year’s triumph was different to the previous three. Red Bull and Mercedes were closely matched throughout the 2021 season before Verstappen snatched the title from Lewis Hamilton at the final race.
A similar rivalry with Charles Leclerc threatened to develop in 2022, but Red Bull pulled away from Ferrari and Verstappen cruised to glory in the end. His 2023 campaign was the most dominant in F1 history.
There were fears that he could match, or even exceed, his haul of 19 race wins when he rattled off four from five at the start of this year. But after extending that record to seven from 10, he endured a 10-race winless streak.
It was a remarkable performance swing, with the previously omnipotent Red Bull sinking to fourth fastest on some weekends. Ferrari, McLaren and even Mercedes (on occasion) edged ahead.
The result was that the Bulls finished third in the constructors’ championship. While that makes Verstappen’s achievement look even better, it’s led to some lasting ill-feeling at Milton Keynes.
Max Verstappen hints that rival team rule breaches gave Red Bull ‘no chance’
Speaking to De Telegraaf, Verstappen heavily hinted that there had been foul play from some of Red Bull’s competitors. He’s adamant that he had ‘no chance at all in certain races’.
He doesn’t expect the truth to surface, but he’s certain that his reading of the situation is correct. While he doesn’t name any particular team, it’s highly likely he’s talking about McLaren.
Red Bull complained about McLaren’s wings at the Singapore GP, a week on from Oscar Piastri’s victory in Azerbaijan. Verstappen stated in the press conference that the rear wing was clearly flexing, which is outlawed under the regulations.
They agreed to change it after a dialogue with the FIA, but another controversy surfaced around a month later in Brazil. Red Bull alleged that McLaren were using water to cool the tyres, which is again forbidden, but no evidence was found.
“There were things that happened in the background, which meant that we had no chance at all in certain races,” Verstappen said. “I know that for sure, but no one will ever admit that.”
The regulatory debate went both ways. The FIA examined Red Bull’s cockpit at the United States GP amid suggestions that they were using an illegal ride-height device, but again there was no proof of any wrongdoing.
Red Bull feel the 2024 Formula 1 season was unfair after McLaren triumph
Helmut Marko says McLaren made key strategic mistakes in 2024, and perhaps that saved Red Bull. Verstappen’s eventual 63-point margin over Lando Norris doesn’t reflect the competitive picture.
Indeed, from round six in Miami onwards, McLaren had the fastest package on balance. That’s three-quarters of the season, but Verstappen was only truly nervous in Brazil, a race he ended up winning in spectacular fashion.
Red Bull don’t think their rivals fought fair in 2024. Verstappen has now given voice to that internal sentiment, without explicitly saying as much.
