SUMMARY
- Max Verstappen, along with Red Bull, achieved historic success in 2023, defending both drivers' and constructors' titles.
- Verstappen acknowledges the need to manage expectations in 2024 after the team's historic performance.
Max Verstappen along with his team, Red Bull drove the team to the peak of success in the 2023 season. The quality of performance that was delivered by the group remains unparalleled. The Austrian outfit has raised a red flag for the remaining teams on the grid who are hoping to match the speed of RB19. However, the driver has acknowledged the challenge of replicating the team’s accomplishments in 2024.
This past season, Verstappen and Red Bull made history by successfully defending their titles in both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships. After winning 19 of the 22 Grands Prix this past year, the Dutchman shattered all previous records. He secured an impressive streak of 10 straight victories, surpassing Alberto Ascari’s 1952 record of 75% in an era with only eight races.
Max Verstappen raises alarms on Red Bull’s stance in 2024
The 26-year-old has talked to the media amidst the mounting pressure to replicate the dominance he held until 2023. Nevertheless, Verstappen has rightfully admitted by revealing, “It cannot always be like this, I know that. The season we’ve had has been probably the best single season performance in F1, in terms of stats and records.”
Max Verstappen:
“It cannot always be like this, I know that.”
“The season we’ve had has been probably the best single season performance in F1, in terms of stats and records.”
“I think I just have to manage my expectations from now on. That’s just something that you have to… pic.twitter.com/ndT7yhyUmQ
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) January 21, 2024
The reigning world champion went on to add, “I think I just have to manage my expectations from now on. That’s just something that you have to keep telling yourself.” Verstappen’s dominance was so significant that he individually secured the constructors’ title with a record-breaking 575 points. This left Mercedes trailing at 409 points in second place.
Five races before the end of the season, Verstappen secured his third consecutive drivers’ championship, placing him among Formula 1 legends like Ayrton Senna, Niki Lauda, Jackie Stewart, Jack Brabham, and father-in-law, Nelson Piquet.
3x champion triumphs: First 2024 victory
Despite the 2024 season still a month away, Max Verstappen secured his first win, not on the track but in the virtual realm. Verstappen went on to win the GTD class of the iRacing 24 Hours of Daytona, an online endurance race. Collaborating with Gianni Vecchio and Ole Steinbraten in the #4 Team Redline GT3 car, they tackled challenges on the virtual Daytona circuit.
📰: Max Verstappen secured victory in the GTD class of the iRacing 24 Hours of Daytona, an endurance sim racing event. Racing the #4 Team Redline GT3 car alongside Gianni Vecchio and Ole Steinbraten, Verstappen faced the challenge of navigating slower cars as part of multi-class… pic.twitter.com/K5zxgmr1t2
— F1 Naija (@f1_naija) January 21, 2024
The 12-car category was won by the Red Bull driver and his teammates, pointing in the direction of victories in 2024. This virtual victory is not a one-time affair for Verstappen, who often engages in simulator racing even during the F1 season. Apart from his individual successes, Verstappen hopes to start his own GT3 team and turn his love of simulator racing into something more.
Motivated to offer an alternative for budding F1 drivers, Verstappen points out the high costs linked to conventional karting journeys. Although he recognizes that simulator racing cannot entirely mirror real-life experiences, the Dutchman sees it as a feasible path for motorsports enthusiasts.