Why Verstappen’s absolute F1 domination is no turn off

The scale of Max Verstappen’s dominance of the Belgian Grand Prix, and his absolute control of the Formula 1 world championship battle, have left few in doubt about where this year’s trophy is going.

After the ridiculously thin margins (and controversy) that separated the Dutchman from finishing runner-up and his maiden title last year, there is no one who can argue against the fact that Verstappen has been the best driver in 2022.

He is super fast; he has underneath him the best overall package and his car is being run by a bulletproof team that has proved itself to be a step above the opposition through the campaign (apart from some early season reliability wobbles).

Verstappen’s points gap at the front right now – and the way he produced a brilliant win at Spa from 14th on the grid – undoubtedly left many feeling that the F1 season is all but over now.

As Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff remarked: “We are in a situation where the championship will be concluded in Europe probably...”

That feeling of inevitability about the destiny of the F1 2022 crown (even if mathematically it cannot be won before Singapore) has triggered many to suggest that there is little reason to tune in for the remainder of the campaign.

For if Verstappen can win from 14th on the grid without too much drama, then what hope do others have if he starts up the front?

Verstappen produced a brilliant win at Spa from 14th on the grid

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

Red Bull certainly appears to have unlocked something from its RB18 and, amid widespread speculation that Red Bull is working on a lightweight chassis that could be entered from the Singapore GP to finish off the title battle once and for all, rivals’ eyes are already looking large at 2023.

But rather than what we are seeing Verstappen do be a turn off, seeing a car and driver operate at their peak in the way they are right now, is something to behold and has all the hallmarks of those moments in the past when brilliant champions have bonded so well with brilliant cars.

Think of Lewis Hamilton in the 2018 Mercedes, Sebastian Vettel in the 2013 Red Bull, Fernando Alonso in the 2005 Renault and Michael Schumacher in many of his years at Ferrari.

“We are in a situation where the championship will be concluded in Europe probably...” Toto Wolff

These are periods of time when a driver/car combination operate at a different level, and no one can stop them. The wins look so effortless and the results are enough to leave rivals shaking their head about how to knock them off their perch.

These are moments that get looked back on with great fondness and are as much a part of F1 history as the epic last-lap title deciders.

In F1, it is impossible to separate the driver and the car completely when it comes to their contribution to winning races, because having the right machinery is absolutely critical.

Verstappen is certainly being helped by having the best race car (while Ferrari has been phenomenal on Saturdays), and the way the RB18 has developed this season has moved it closer to what he wants – and away from a feeling earlier in the campaign that much better suited his team-mate Sergio Perez.

The way the RB18 has developed this season has moved it closer to what Verstappen wants

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

There is also a slight element that by not having to go up against a faster rival on Sundays, Verstappen is not having to push to make up performance differences: so can be much more in control of things rather than risk going beyond the limit.

As he reflected on the way he is driving this year: “It is just experience and getting more and more comfortable in the car. The car itself is also a bit better compared to last year.

“Last year our car was good, but I think Mercedes was generally faster. Therefore I had to drive a bit more on the limit.”

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner believes that Verstappen is not just being helped by a better car this season; it’s that something extra has been unleashed through having the world title under his belt.

“I think that Max, since winning that championship last year, has taken another step,” he said. “I think it's in many ways released him and he's driving at an incredible level.”

What has definitely been more noticeable this season is Verstappen’s ability to think more long game. In the past he’s perhaps been open to accusations of being impetuous in the heat of battle.

The current Verstappen seems better able to bide his time in making moves (look at the way he picked his way through the chaotic opening lap at Spa last weekend), and also managing tyres to maximise the strategy (Hungary was a prime example of this).

Strong tyre management to maximise strategy led Verstappen to a win at the Hungarian GP

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

Where once on days of high degradation or high wear it would be Verstappen’s team-mate Sergio Perez who would be expected to come to the fore, now the Dutchman has a full handle on it. And days like Austria where he has been on the back foot, they have acted as moments to learn and make himself better.

“I think I'm always good on tyres, but maybe people don't look at it,” he said in Belgium last weekend.

“But yeah, just understanding, experience, trying to set up the car in the best way possible. And sometimes the car reacts better to it and sometimes not.

“I think when you look at, for example, Austria, we weren't that great, but I think we learned from that. And we tried to apply that. Yeah, if the car sometimes is that good, everything becomes easier.”

"I think that Max, since winning that championship last year, has taken another step" Christian Horner

Sure Verstappen hasn’t been perfect this season – look at the 360-spin in Hungary or the off in Spain – but it perhaps is not a coincidence that on both days he made such errors, he still went on and won.

For Horner – who full well knows from the Red Bull/Vettel era the heights that can be reached by a driver and car being at one, F1 is witnessing a special moment right now.

“Given his age and experience, I think that you're witnessing a driver that is completely at one with a car and is in an absolute purple patch of his career.”

And that’s something F1 fans should relish to watch, not act as a reason to switch off.

For Horner, F1 is witnessing a special moment right now

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images