Dutchman’s fourth successive title “completely cements” his place among the many sport’s greats insists Pink Bull boss.
On paper it should imply little, actually in ten or twenty years. Nevertheless, the very fact is that this was most likely Max Verstappen’s most interesting season.
Sure, there have been just a few questionable strikes within the latter half of the yr, nonetheless contemplating what he was up in opposition to – a few resurgent groups, the shortage of a supporting teammate and a shadow hanging over his staff for a lot of the yr – the boy completed properly.
Among the many first to sing Verstappen’s praises as he put the 2024 title out of attain, was staff boss, Christian Horner.
“I feel this one is a really particular victory as a result of clearly there have been challenges this yr,” mentioned the Briton in a masterpiece of understatement. “However I feel that Max scored greater than double the quantity of race wins than another driver.
“He is gained it with two races to go,” he mentioned of the title. “He is been head and shoulders the perfect driver on the grid in Method 1, and I feel what he is actually completed this yr is completely cement his place amongst the greats within the sport. And I feel that each statistically and on the way in which that he is pushed, that is unquestionable.
“I feel this was, along with 2021, the hardest,” the Briton continued, referring to the laborious fought battle with Lewis Hamilton for that first title. “This one, we began the season very strongly. However by Miami, it was clear that McLaren had made a major step.
“By means of the summer season months, after we had been struggling a bit with the automobile, he was nonetheless second at Silverstone, second at Zandvoort. He was nonetheless choosing up podiums and outcomes and behind the scenes, was placing an enormous quantity of effort in, with the engineers and designers and on the simulator, greater than any of the earlier years.
“I feel he is been excellent this yr. Not solely what he is completed within the cockpit, and I feel he is impressed inside the cockpit, however out of the cockpit as properly. The best way he is performed himself, the way in which he is labored with the engineers, and all of the technical employees, has been phenomenal.”
“It has been an extended season,” mentioned the Dutchman. “After all we began off superb, it was nearly like cruising, however then we had a troublesome run. However as a staff, we stored it collectively, we stored engaged on enhancements and we pulled off the win.
“I am extremely pleased with everybody, what they’ve completed for me, so in the mean time I am simply feeling very relieved, in a approach, but in addition proud.”
Requested, wanting again to when he entered the game, if he ever envisaged 4 titles, he mentioned: “Undoubtedly not! I used to be simply completely happy to be there and dreaming of potential victories or standing on the rostrum, you recognize, the traditional issues which are already very troublesome to attain.
“Then we simply bought onto that run after in fact a troublesome few years, so we stored attempting after which we simply hit the bottom working with the brand new idea and like I mentioned, to be standing right here a four-time world champion is simply unimaginable.”
Having cruised to the 2023 title, requested how this season in contrast, he mentioned: “For positive it was a really difficult season. I feel additionally as an individual, at instances it’s totally difficult. I needed to be calm.
“I feel in a approach, in fact, I nonetheless choose final season,” he admitted, “I loved it lots, however I feel this season, undoubtedly once more taught me a variety of classes.
“I am very pleased with how we dealt with it additionally as a staff. So in a approach in fact that makes it additionally very, very particular, and a wonderful season.”
Take a look at our Sunday gallery from Las Vegas right here.
