The Art of Dominance
Max Verstappen. The prodigy. The Dutch Lion.
Ten races have gone by and he’s won eight of them. Phases of dominance like this have passed in the sport before, often sparking debate. While some argue that such dominance should not be admired, attributing it solely to the car, one cannot overlook the remarkable consistency and skill of drivers who push a great car to its absolute limit. The ability to handle immense pressure, kiss barriers, and shave off crucial hundredths, crucial tenths, requires an exceptional level of athleticism.
Arriving at the pinnacle of motorsport at the age of 17, he impressed with his raw speed, his talent, and potential that was yet to be ripened. Crashes, controversies and comments made him somewhat unlikeable but his fierce competitiveness garnered respect. He says what he feels, and like the other 19 drivers, is here to win.
Quickly, he became the new golden boy of the Red Bull program after Sebastian Vettel jumped into a scarlet Ferrari. Mid-season in 2016, he was moved up the grid from Toro Rosso to their sister team, Red Bull. In his first race with the team, he secured a victory, offering a glimpse of what he could achieve alongside them.
In 2023, he is now a double world champion, pursuing his third, ahead of second in the championship by almost a hundred points. A race weekend rolls around, and he takes pole with ease, wins with a margin, and often pits to chase the fastest lap. A dominant era. Albeit with a superior car, the RB19 that has hit the nail on the head with the new regulations, a cut above the rest of the grid. Like him or not, his sheer consistency has to be admired. A simple comparison with his teammate, Sergio Perez, clarifies why.
The latter seems to be struggling recently after having a promising run at the beginning of the season. In the last five races, he has failed to even pull himself out of Q1 in the quickest car. Small mistakes, oversights, track limits where lap times have been deleted have plagued his performance. Verstappen would be leading the constructors’ championship even without Perez. His teammate is playing catch-up while he’s taking victory after victory.
While the competition at the front of the grid may be limited, the midfield battles offer thrilling action, and although the potential champion seems locked in at the moment, anything can happen in motorsport.
Formula 1 goes through periods of dominance. In this century alone, in the 23 years of racing we’ve had, there have only been eight world champions. As repetitive as they may have been, in the long run, we look back, and we admire the dominance, the conviction it takes to win four world titles in a row or more.
We’ve seen drivers break records and machinery that’s faster than ever. This level of success requires a symbiosis between driver and machinery that is almost faultless. Verstappen’s dominance cannot be attributed to him alone. Rather the Milton Keynes-based team should also be commended for their consistent efforts, the same for Mercedes in the turbo-hybrid era, and Ferrari during the early 2000s.
Speaking to Channel Four about dominance, Lewis Hamilton said, “Just from a fan point of view, of growing up watching the grand prix, I don’t think anybody wants to see the period that I had, the period that Michael [Schumacher] had, the period [Sebastian] Vettel had and now Max will be having.”
Competition is clearly vital for the sport’s excitement. As F1 moves from one regulation change to the next, elements are often missed like the sound of a certain engine, or the way a certain car looked or behaved. Dominance, rarely so. Yet, there is also something captivating about witnessing a driver continuously push themselves and their car to the limit, striving not only for outstanding results but also for personal growth. The Dutchman, if he continues this exceptional form, is seemingly on his way to the greatest of all-time debate in the coming years. Until then, let us enjoy watching him push that beast of an RB19 to its limit.
