Fresh off clinching his fourth consecutive Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Max Verstappen is taking a victory lap—both literally and figuratively. With his fifth-place finish at the race sealing the deal over McLaren’s Lando Norris, Verstappen has now responded to his detractors, particularly McLaren CEO Zak Brown, with a bold claim:
He could have won the 2024 title in McLaren’s MCL38—and done it even faster.
“Such Things Only Motivate Me”
For much of 2024, Verstappen faced heightened scrutiny after Red Bull’s mid-season struggles allowed McLaren to surge ahead as the grid’s fastest package. Critics, led by Zak Brown, questioned whether Verstappen’s earlier dominance was purely down to Red Bull’s superior machinery. Brown even asserted that Verstappen would have struggled to win titles in a less dominant car.
But the Dutchman’s triumph this year has debunked that notion, with Verstappen proving that consistency, racecraft, and resilience are just as crucial as outright car performance.
“Such things only motivate me,” Verstappen said when reflecting on Brown’s remarks. “If people are critical and think I can only win in the best car, I will prove them wrong.
“If I don’t get credit for this now, I don’t know what else I can do.”
“I Would’ve Won It Sooner in the McLaren”
McLaren’s transformation into the paddock’s pacesetter in the latter half of the season turned the Constructors’ Championship into a thrilling three-way battle with Ferrari and Red Bull. While Norris led the charge for McLaren, Verstappen remained unyielding, consistently collecting points to maintain his lead.
When asked if he could have delivered the championship behind the wheel of the McLaren, Verstappen didn’t mince words.
“Whether I would have become champion in the McLaren? Yes! And a lot sooner too.”
Verstappen even extended his hypothetical scenarios to previous years:
- 2021: “In another car, I would have taken the title too.”
- 2022: “It would have become more difficult because Ferrari was maybe a bit too fragile then.”
- 2023: “That would have been a bit trickier.”
Reflecting on Dominance and Defiance
While 2024 has been a tougher battle for Verstappen, he still managed to clinch the title with two races to spare. The achievement also prompted him to revisit his record-breaking 2023 season, where he famously won 10 races in a row.
“Last year, I had a dominant car, but I always felt that not everyone appreciated what we achieved as a team,” Verstappen explained. “Winning 10 in a row was incredible.
“Of course, our car was dominant, but it wasn’t as dominant, I think, as people thought it was.”
However, Verstappen sees 2024 as his most satisfying campaign yet:
“This season, for most of the season—70 per cent of the season—we didn’t have the fastest car. But we still extended our lead. That is definitely something that I’m very proud of.”
What’s Next for Verstappen?
With the Constructors’ Championship still up for grabs between McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull, Verstappen is now focused on helping his team finish strong in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. But his sharp critique of detractors and unwavering belief in his abilities prove that, for Verstappen, the battle isn’t just on the track—it’s also about solidifying his legacy.
“I’ve proven I can win with or without the fastest car,” Verstappen concluded. “And if that’s still not enough, I don’t know what is.”