How can he get better, if at all?
WB: For me, 2024 ranks as Verstappen’s finest hour and best-won world championship. He didn’t just see off a singular rival, he weathered the internal storms at his team which had existed from before the season even began, endured racing a car which had slumped from being unbeatable to nigh on undriveable and all at a time when three rival teams found the pace to win and Verstappen had to contend with being the sole consistent points-scorer for his team. To carry that burden alone, to put in the race drives he has, and to emerge as world champion, is the stuff of legend. And, worryingly for his rivals, he gets better almost every weekend.
LB: There were glimpses of chinks in the Verstappen armour this year, the most vivid of which came at the Mexican Grand Prix when battling Norris. After robustly defending from the McLaren driver but ultimately losing the position and picking up a 10-second penalty, Verstappen let the red mist descend a few corners later and dived down the inside. He didn’t come close to making the corner and forced Norris off-track, antics that triggered another time penalty. It was a rare lapse in an otherwise fine season. If he irons those chinks out, he’s well on his way to becoming one of the most complete drivers F1 has ever seen.
CM: Nobody’s perfect and all of the greats had their flaws, and Verstappen can definitely improve. He lost his cool in Budapest this year, so can still become that little bit more controlled when things aren’t going well. Similarly, he is usually so good at racing right on the edge of the regulations without breaking them, but had a few occasions – particularly in Mexico City – where he went that bit too far. But it could be argued those indiscretions still had a positive impact on his title hopes given the way they held Norris up in that race, and that’s a ruthlessness that works for him even if it might not always lead to praise.
AJ: He’s taken a different exam this season to turn sixth place into second in order to blunt his rivals’ title momentum and that is a rare skill, completely different from converting poles into wins, so that was another improvement displayed. With the rules on wheel-to-wheel combat expected to change from 2024 to 2025, it will be interesting to see if his uncompromising approach in this department has to be altered.
JP: In terms of ability he’s got everything and he’s consistent with it, there just aren’t any weaknesses. The only thing I’d personally like to see is him racing slightly fairer in the heat of a championship battle. You could argue that this is an asset of his, to be ruthless as well and push the limits, but he certainly does that more than other title contenders in recent memory.
