Max Verstappen continues to dominate the world of motorsport with three championships already under his belt at age 26. The Dutch driver is no doubt, the man of the moment, winning all three championships consecutively. Verstappen's dominance doesn't seem to be going down any time soon as he currently leads the 2024 F1 championship by some distance.
The betting odds are yet again in favor of the veteran driver to win his fourth consecutive championship. As the season continues to heat up, Formula One fans in the US can find this guide by TrustnBet useful when placing their bets for the remaining races of the season.
With a fourth championship within touching distance, how does Red Bull’s formidable driver rank among the greats?
Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton made his career debut at the Australian Grand Prix in 2007 and has completed over 300 races to date. He won his first race at the 2007 Canadian Grand Prix, edging off fellow McLaren teammate Fernando Alonso.
Hamilton finished second on the Drivers standings in 2007, narrowly missing out to Kimi Räikkönen by a point in the final race of the season. But he was not to be denied in his sophomore year, claiming his first championship in 2008 and becoming the then-youngest driver to win an F1 title. He also became the first British driver since 1996 to win a World Championship.
Hamilton did not win another title until 2014, despite top-level performances in the years prior. He did not have to wait for long to get his third though, clinching back-to-back championships for the first time in 2015.
He ranked second on the Drivers standings in 2016, despite winning the most races and earning the most pole positions. Hamilton will go on to win four consecutive titles between 2017 and 2020, earning his seventh championship, which set him in a tie for most F1 World Championships.
Aside from championship wins, Hamilton holds several F1 records, ranking No. 1 in career wins, pole positions, and career points, and podium finishes.
Michael Schumacher
Before Hamilton dominated the 2010s, many regarded Michael Schumacher as the greatest driver in F1 history, and for obvious reasons. The German driver was in a league of his own, winning seven titles, including five straight in the early 2000s.
Schumacher made his Formula One debut at the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix but did not win his first race until the following year in Belgium. The retired F1 driver went on to produce one of the finest careers in Motorsports history, earning 91 wins and 68 pole positions in 308 races.
He won his first championship in 1994 for Benetton and followed through with another in 1995. Schumacher joined Ferrari the following year but failed to replicate his championship campaign, finishing third in the Drivers’ Championships.
He narrowly lost the title in the final race in 1997 after a fierce battle with Jacques Villeneuve in the final race of the season at the European Grand Prix. Widely regarded as one of the most dramatic endings in Formula One history, Schumacher was disqualified from the race after a costly maneuver on lap 48.
Schumacher came second again in 1998, losing out to McLaren’s Mika Häkkinen. The following year, he led Ferrari to their first Constructors Championship since 1983 but missed out on the Drivers’ Championship after suffering a brake failure that led to a broken leg at the British Grand Prix.
Following a series of ups and downs in the years prior, Schumi finally claimed his third championship and would go on to win an unprecedented five straight titles from 2000 to 2004, cementing himself as an all-time great. No other driver in the history of the sport has won as many consecutive championships to this day.
Schumacher finished third and second in 2005 and 2006, respectively, ending his decade-long career with Ferrari. Following a three-year hiatus, he returned to Formula One briefly for two years, teaming up with Mercedes, before his final race at the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen
The GOAT shouts have started pouring in for the three-time World Champion, and it’s wild to think he's only 26. Verstappen first made headlines in 2015 when he became the youngest driver to start a Formula One race at just 17 years old.
He earned his first win at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix, edging out Ferrari driver Kimi Räikkönen. He has since put up over 60 wins and is on pace to match and possibly best Lewis Hamilton’s career record.
Verstappen became World Champion for the first time in 2021 after narrowly beating then-current champion Hamilton in controversial style.
There were no controversies when it came to his next two championships, however, with Verstappen dominating the season. He beat Schumacher’s and Sebastian Vettel’s record of 13 wins in a season with his 15th win at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The Dutch Driver also broke the record for most points in a season, winning the 2022 Formula One title with 454 points to Lewis Hamilton's 413 points in 2019.
Verstappen continued his stint of dominance in 2023, breaking his record for most wins in a Formula One season (19) and most points (575). His points tally was more than double that of second-placed driver Sergio Pérez.
While Verstappen continues to break numerous records and accumulate more awards, he still has some catching up to do to stand toe-to-toe with Hamilton and Schumacher. But with a fourth consecutive title already in sight, he has a shot at becoming the undisputed greatest Formula One Driver of all time.