Max Verstappen has cemented his status as the undisputed king of the F1 grid. His 2023 campaign was nothing short of legendary, as he secured 19 victories across 22 races. He also made history by winning 10 races in a row, eventually clinching his third World Championship with a points lead that more than doubled that of his teammate, Sergio Perez.
Max Verstappen has firmly established himself as the dominant force on the Formula One grid, delivering a record-breaking campaign of F1 2023 supremacy in which he won 19 of the 22 available Grand Prix victories. Verstappen’s winning streak includes a 10-race winning run, a new F1 milestone. Verstappen won his third World Championship with more than double the points of Red Bull teammate and closest competitor Sergio Perez.
Verstappen's rise from a teenage prodigy to a dominant champion has happened exclusively within the Red Bull ecosystem. While his current contract runs through 2028, making a lifelong tenure with the team possible, the future remains uncertain. A move to Ferrari would be a seismic shift in the sport, blending the current era's best driver with the most storied team in F1—a prospect that Verstappen has recently admitted interests him.
In a feature for Gazzetta dello Sport, the reigning champion praised Ferrari's rich heritage and competitive spirit, suggesting he would still be in his prime at 31 when his contract expires. Fred Vasseur, the head of Ferrari, believes Verstappen should keep his options open regarding the Scuderia. Vasseur pointed out that any team principal on the grid would jump at the chance to have Max in their car, admitting that all ten teams would be thrilled to welcome him.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur feels Max Verstappen should “never say never” to racing for the historic Formula One team. Vasseur has now spoken out on the matter, stating that no F1 team boss would not want Verstappen in their lineup. I think that if you ask the 10 team principals on the grid, everybody would be pleased to welcome Max into the team, Vasseur admitted.
Vasseur acknowledged that such a move isn't happening tomorrow, given the length of Verstappen's Red Bull commitment—so long, in fact, that Vasseur joked he wasn't even sure of the exact end date. However, the possibility of Verstappen wearing Ferrari red by 2029 remains a real possibility. As he heads into 2024, Max is the clear favorite to chase a fourth World Title, which would put him on par with Sebastian Vettel's feat of four straight championships with Red Bull from 2010 to 2013.
At the same time, Lando Norris is gearing up for his sixth season in F1. Since joining McLaren in 2019, the Briton has earned immense respect for his skill, but the top step of the podium has remained elusive simply because McLaren hasn't had a car capable of winning races.