Will Max Verstappen Be Greater than Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton?
The sight of Max Verstappen stepping up onto the first-place spot of the podium has become an extremely familiar one in Formula 1. The Dutchman was dominant in the 2023 season, winning every single race except one. Not even the addition of the Las Vegas Grand Prix was enough to help other drivers make a challenge because, by the time of that race, Verstappen had the World Championship firmly in the bag and the celebratory beers chilling in the fridge.
Max Verstappen at the FIA Prize giving gala in 2021, to collect his first F1 World Title
Despite being just 26 years old, Verstappen and his achievements have already earned himself comparisons with the great Michael Schumacher because of their ability to get the best out of any car and of the similar levels of aggression the two aces share on the track; and with ambitious Brit Lewis Hamilton, who equalled Schumacher’s record of seven World Championship wins, because of his exceptional talent and also because of his aggression on the track. Below is a look at Verstappen’s odds of winning the 2024 championship and whether he could become even greater than both of these F1 heavyweights.
Can Verstappen win the 2024 season?
The Red Bull driver has entered 185 Grand Prix and won 54 of them. He’s been on the podium 98 times and has won three World Championships. Last season, he was so dominant that for the 2024 season sportsbooks have given him odds of 4/15 on the F1 betting money lines. British F1 driver Lando Norris, driving for McLaren, is the next big favorite, receiving odds of 33/4 on the moneylines. Mercedes man Hamilton is next, with 10/1.
Sportsbooks have just as much confidence in Verstappen’s technical team. They’ve set Red Bull Racing at 1/4 for the 2024 Constructor’s Championship, which they won last season. Sportsbooks have set McLaren at 29/4 and Mercedes at 29/4 for the championship.
Verstappen versus Schumacher
Michael Schumacher was born to race Formula 1 cars. The Cologne-born driver won the World Championship twice with Benetton and five successive seasons with Ferrari. After coming out of retirement to race for Mercedes but only making it onto the podium once in three years, “Schumi” finally decided to hang up his helmet for good in 2012.
Felipe Massa and Michael Schumacher celebrating on the podium at the 2006 German F1 GP
After 185 race weekends, the prolific German had five of the eventual seven titles he’d win wrapped up. At this point in his career, he also had more victories, podium and pole position tallies than the Dutchman.
Given Verstappen’s age, he has every chance of becoming greater than the former Ferrari and Mercedes man. Experts, however, have likened him to the German in that he’s very hardworking and that he has the same mentality, that of only ever thinking about winning. He’s also fearless when it comes to working with the throttle and is aggressive on the track.
If Verstappen is to become greater than Schumacher, he must continue to work hard. Formula 1 cars in Schumacher’s heyday were physically harder to driver. The fact that Verstappen has achieved so much already means there is a danger he could become complacent. People had high hopes of Lewis Hamilton making it eight World Championships when he laid his hand on the seventh title, but somehow the Brit faded slightly, and these hopes died out.
Verstappen versus Hamilton
After 332 Grand Prix entered, 103 first-place finishes, 197 podiums and seven world titles (one with McLaren and six with Mercedes), no one can dispute Stevenage-born Lewis Hamilton’s talent. In terms of pole positions and podiums, the Brit fared better than the Dutchman after 185 race weekends. Whereas Hamilton already had three titles under his belt, Verstappen was just on his way to this third. The Red Bull man does, however, take the upper hand when it comes to actual race wins (54 v 50).
Lewis Hamilton on the podium during the 2023 United States F1 GP
Just like Hamilton, Verstappen oozes potential and some Formula 1 insiders believe he will become greater than Hamilton. When the Dutchman was on his way to winning his third World Championship, ex-Formula 1 driver Johnny Herbert, for instance, claimed that Verstappen will be better than Lewis Hamilton. He pointed to the natural evolution of the sport… that there is always someone who comes along who is better than the last. He talked of how the late Ayrton Senna was the best; but Schumacher was better; and then Hamilton was the best; so Verstappen would be better than Lewis.
To say Max Verstappen has a bright future ahead of him in Formula 1 would be the understatement of the century. He’s only 26 years old and is already earning comparisons to some of the greatest drivers to get behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car. He’ll serve Red Bull for a few more years yet, so the very best could still be yet to come from him and the team.
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It’s easy to get carried away, wait until the competition gets fierce then we’ll see who is prepared to take the risks and the stress that goes with it. Can’t wait!
As long as the judges aren't to finicky about cutting corners
I suspect that Max will get fed-up with the machinations and BS that go along with driving in F1 - the fiasco at Las Vegas comes to mind.
Plus, think of the odds - he would have to win the WDC for every year left in his contract to Red Bull. That would be a phenomenal achievement - but unlikely.
My read of the guy, is that he has more on the ball, and hasn't tied the entirety of his persona to success or failure in F1. He may also have a Grosjean Moment, and realize that there are indeed very few things worth dying for - and an F1 Title ain't one of them.
Thumbs up
Johnny Herbert is the biggest clown I’ve ever seen and I’ve seen a few. I’m a massive Max fan but it’s still early days. If he continues on the trajectory he is on then yes he can do it. But so many things that he can’t control also play a big part in it. There’s been many great athletes that were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Let’s come back to this when he has to scrap for the wins then we will see if he is the best.
But lets be fair Hannah has the personality of a trout, Max is exciting in and out of the car with his brutal honesty he was 26 with three titles Lulu was 30yr with 3
Like I said I’m a Max fan.
The trout has millions of fans world wide, the trout in red will have many more. Max will be lucky if he has a team left to drive for by the time they have hung Horner out to dry.
Toto is out for revenge and has taken his eye off the ball, Mercedes have thrown away the best brand ambassador they could have had, Lewis has a proper racing manager and a dynasty that will worship him for what he has achieved win or lose.
Yeah so good all they offered him was a 1+1 deal lol
Their loss .
Lewis is often perceived as overrated and tends to be a bit of a complainer. The sooner he leaves the sport, the quicker it can return to focusing on racing. I doubt Ferrari would tolerate his constant complaints.
LOL - Lewis's new handle is Hannah?
I'm all over that like white on rice.
First two of the year-1. Man these guys are so fast, 2. and my seats broken, Not bad for race one..!
To Blo
Ithink 2021 showed Max is a fierce competitor , so no worries there.
And now he does't make many mistakes.
He is formidable.
I rate Senna , Schumacher and Max. I do rate Hamilton with those 3.
So Red Bull implodes. Meh.
Fred V already saw that coming. .
Lewis sits there and begins to tell Fred how everything is gonna change.
Door opens and Max walks in. Lewis looks perplexed.
Fred says Umm Lewis I didn't say you could come here and win, man.
I said you could come and be wingman. Meet Max our Number 1 driver.
Beside Rosberg, who were Hamilton’s competition? If Verstappen continues in F1, only time will tell who will be in the rarified air of Senna and Schmacher. Hamilton’s time has come and gone. Ferrari is not going to provide him with a 8th championship. The car has improved over last year for sure, but there is no magic happening. Sainz was thrown under the bus for no reason. The Ferrari culture is steeped in tradition, Hamilton is only concerned about Hamilton.
Agreed come the end of this season Fred will be wondering why he signed the Dame, if she cant start picking up better results, I echo about shes in it for herself , ive been saying that for quite a while now,when Carlos comes back , hell be straight on it again
The scene needs to be enlivened.
Could start with separate class of RB racing against itself.
Checo to race against a new challenger every time with his seat in contention.
Bring Max in from the RB of course.
Get rid of some dross and bring the young guys through.
Drivers outrageous costume challenge.
Or Max drives the odd numbered for ORBR GP then car 44 on even number GP to see if he can tie with himself as dual WDC in same year.
Erwin Schrödinger flagman
Too deep for me.
I'm out of my depth with imaginary numbers and muons.😵💫
I got it Ian I'm just slow to react, get halfway there and my brain shuts down. Probably would need someone like him to officiate and calculate. Didn't mean to brush you off.
You're right though.
The many worlds theory of Max...:-)
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