Max Verstappen has been sublime on the way to achieving his fourth World Championship, with his consistency being key to success in 2024.
The Dutchman won seven of the first 10 races in 2024 at the wheel of his Red Bull RB20 and although he went on a 10-race win drought between the Spanish and Sao Paulo Grand Prix victories, he consistently stayed in the top six places.
Red Bull did not have the quickest car on all year round, with the team getting a ‘wake-up call’ midway through the season when they realised that both McLaren and Ferrari were a real threat to them in defending their Constructors’ crown.
Verstappen built up a crucial lead in the early stages of the season, scoring over 100 points in the first five races while his title rival Lando Norris made too many mistakes.
Outgoing Red Bull sporting director, Jonathan Wheatley, has revealed why he thinks Verstappen is the ‘most extraordinary driver’ he has ever worked with including Sebastian Vettel when speaking to De Telegraaf.
Max Verstappen’s ‘resilience’ makes him ‘most extraordinary driver’ on F1 grid
Vettel achieved the same feat as Verstappen with Red Bull for four years in a row between the 2010 and 2013 seasons, but clearly had a superior car compared to the Dutchman.
At the end of his reign in 2013, Vettel went on an unbeaten run of nine races which was eclipsed by Vestappen in 2023 when he won 10 in a row at the wheel of the RB19.
Despite being handed a tricky car to drive in 2024, Wheatley believes Verstappen’s tenacity has been a major factor in his ability to defend his crown.
“The resilience that Max has shown all year has been admirable. We’ve had some really tough times but he’s kept on delivering. He’s probably the most extraordinary driver I’ve ever worked with,” said Wheatley.
“And I’ve been lucky to have had some great experiences with drivers. This year in particular, more than ever, he’s shown how strong he is mentally.”
Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel titles head-to-head
Vettel’s titles could be considered easier given the massive advantage that Red Bull had in 2011 with the blown diffuser and floor, while also having short calendars to contend.
Verstappen’s titles were closely fought in 2021 and 2024, while Red Bull’s advantage at the start of the 2022 regulation period set them up for dominance in 2023.
| Season | Wins | Poles |
| 2010 (Vettel) | 5 | 10 |
| 2011 (Vettel) | 11 | 15 |
| 2012 (Vettel) | 5 | 6 |
| 2013 (Vettel) | 13 | 9 |
| 2021 (Verstappen) | 10 | 10 |
| 2022 (Verstappen) | 15 | 7 |
| 2023 (Verstappen) | 18 | 12 |
| 2024 (Verstappen) | 8 | 8 |
In the 2010 season, Vettel went into the final race in Abu Dhabi with a chance to win the title along with Mark Webber, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso.
At the end of 2012 it was a similar scenario, with Vettel and Alonso having a title showdown in Brazil. So although both drivers have enjoyed periods of dominance, there have also been seasons that have required consistent results to achieve the maximum.
