The 26-year-old’s initial victory in Shanghai places him 25 points ahead of his Mexican teammate Sergio Perez after five races and marks his fourth triumph of the season. He has also commenced all five races from the front position, and it is certain that the ‘three-time’ F1 World Champion will soon become a ‘four-time’ champion before the conclusion of this season.
Verstappen has now emerged victorious in half of all the races held since Formula 1 last competed in China, in April 2019 prior to the COVID-19 outbreak. In total, only Michael Schumacher (1) and Lewis Hamilton (103) have achieved more wins than Max, who currently boasts an impressive 58 victories and counting!
Lando Norris of McLaren, who finished second on Sunday, informed journalists earlier in the weekend that the sport is witnessing an unprecedented level of dominance: “The only races that have been thrilling are the ones in which Max is absent. If you witness the same driver winning every single time without any competition, it inevitably becomes monotonous, and that is evident,” lamented Norris, who secured a podium finish in China, splitting the dominant Red Bulls.
During a conversation with reporters in Shanghai after the race, Horner expressed the need to appreciate Verstappen’s exceptional performances: “Max possesses a unique talent, and this is truly a remarkable moment for him. As we have witnessed with every driver, this level of success is not everlasting, and I believe it is crucial to savor the moment. There is no guarantee that we will be able to provide him with a car of this caliber every year for the next five years. It is about making the most of the present moment. He is like a consistent metronome. He has maintained the same pace he displayed last year,” continued Horner, whose team previously secured four consecutive titles with Sebastian Vettel from 2010-2013.
“Since the previous Chinese Grand Prix, he has emerged victorious in 50% of all races. He has triumphed in 21 out of the last 23 races. He is in exceptional form, in sync with the car and the team, and thoroughly enjoying his racing,” insisted Horner.
Regarding the future of the Dutchman, the Red Bull F1 boss stated that there is “no ambiguity” regarding Verstappen’s racing plans in 2025, referencing public statements made by Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, despite Verstappen already having a contract until 2028. Mercedes dominated the sport from 2014 to 2020 and will have an available seat in 2025, with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton making a move to Ferrari. The Italian team experienced a similar golden era with Michael Schumacher in the early 2000s.
“I believe that sometimes these comments are simply intended to create controversy,” commented Horner on Wolff’s remarks. “We have now surpassed the number of races won by Mercedes in the modern era. Our team is currently in top form, so why would you want to leave this team? Perhaps [Wolff’s] time would be better spent focusing on the team rather than the driver market. Have you heard that George Russell’s contract expires at the end of 2025? Maybe he won’t be so eager to stay in ’26. The market is constantly changing,” speculated Horner. (Written by Alan Baldwin)