After his fifth place at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Sunday November 24, Max Verstappen won a fourth consecutive Formula 1 world champion title. If the first had been obtained after a historic battle with Lewis Hamilton in 2021, the next two had been closer to a walk in the park. But the 2024 season was marked by the emergence of new rivalries. Max Verstappen emerges triumphant, after several notable moments.
Bahrain, Horner affair and transfer rumors
Even before the start of the 2024 Formula 1 season, the Red Bull Racing team experienced a first shock, which weighed on the rest of the year. In February, Christian Horner, boss of the Red Bull Formula 1 team, was the target of an internal investigation for inappropriate behavior towards an employee.
A legal and media drama befell Red Bull, and many members of the house ended up leaving the ship, whether for this reason or another. Jos Verstappen, Max's father, himself displays his dissatisfaction with the team, while Horner is cleared after weeks of investigation.
The Dutchman himself is announced as leaving, one day for Mercedes who must replace Hamilton, another day for Aston Martin to follow Adrian Newey, and even retired… But for the first Grand Prix of the season in Bahrain (March 2) Max Verstappen remained impervious to all this, at least in appearance. And as in 2023, the world champion subsequently took pole positions, victories, and quickly took control of the world championship, suggesting a season without suspense.
Imola, the perfect last weekend
The seventh meeting of the season (May 19) was the last one fully mastered by Max Verstappen and Red Bull. After taking pole position, as in every Grand Prix since the start of the season, the Dutchman led the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix from start to finish, despite constant pressure from Lando Norris. While McLaren took the lead over Ferrari, Red Bull retained the best car-driver combination.
Even if Lando Norris had won the first victory of his career two weeks before Imola, in Miami, Max Verstappen left Italy with 48 points ahead of Charles Leclerc (2nd) and 60 over the Briton (4th). At the beginning of July, after the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, the gap even rose to 84 points between Super Max and Norris, his new runner-up. But of the twelve Grand Prix contested, Verstappen had already left five to his competitors. A bad habit revealing a disrupted hierarchy.
Singapore, one vulgarity too many
In the summer, McLaren surprises everyone. Lando Norris lines up the pole positions, Oscar Piastri wins his first Grand Prix, and the gaps in the rankings narrow. Max Verstappen no longer wins, and sees his old rival Lewis Hamilton taste success again. The Red Bull no longer works, and McLaren's tire management is enough to leave Max Verstappen envious.
In his characteristic style, Max Verstappen always faces the media as the championship leader. And during a banal press conference during the Singapore stage, he was suddenly criticized for his spontaneous, sometimes crude language, and imposed a fine and community service. A sanction disapproved by many drivers and players in the paddock and which gives rise to rumors, sometimes far-fetched, according to which Max Verstappen is tired of Formula 1 and could consider early retirement.
Interlagos, “Super Max” tames the rain
After Oscar Piastri in Baku (September 15) and Lando Norris in Singapore (September 22), it was the two Ferrari drivers who won: Charles Leclerc in Austin (October 20), then Carlos Sainz in Mexico (October 27). At the altitude of the Hermanos Rodriguez circuit, Max Verstappen is singled out for his maneuvers deemed unacceptable on Lando Norris. Leaving Mexico, the gap is only 47 points between the two men.
Then comes the Brazilian Grand Prix. Lando Norris takes pole – he has become the specialist – but is completely trapped by the rain, like everyone else, with the exception of three men: the two Frenchmen from Alpine, and Max Verstappen, unstoppable at Interlagos. “Super Max” brings back the fond memories of all Formula 1 followers and shines in the torrential rain of Sao Paulo, as only he knows how to do. Lando Norris is relegated to 62 points… A mountain.
And under the spotlights of Las Vegas, the young Briton can only watch from afar as his friend and rival finishes the job, without trembling. After a calm race, far from the Mercedes, behind the Ferraris too, but sheltered from the McLarens, Max Verstappen put an end to the suspense, after a trying second part of the season, during which he was called into question more than ever. But he never flinched.
