Verstappen’s journey to his first championship in 2021, marked by an intense battle with Lewis Hamilton, set the stage for his subsequent dominance. He continued his reign by clinching titles in 2022 and 2023, breaking records along the way. In 2023, his Red Bull team won 21 out of 22 races, with Verstappen triumphing in 19 of them. As the 2024 season commenced, he led Red Bull to three out of four 1-2 finishes. However, some, like Prost, argue that Verstappen’s success is overshadowed by his superior machinery and the lack of strong competition from teammates or rival teams, diminishing the value of his championships.
Prost, reflecting on his rivalry with Ayrton Senna, notes the differences in modern F1, where teams often prioritize a clear number one driver, such as Verstappen at Red Bull. He believes that championship battles involving multiple competitive teams enhance the value of a winning driver. Despite acknowledging Verstappen’s talent, Prost laments that the perception of him winning due to his car detracts from his achievements. He emphasizes the importance of teams like Ferrari joining the championship fight to enrich the sport.
In the current season, Ferrari emerges as the closest challenger to Red Bull, with a 1-2 finish in Australia following Verstappen’s retirement due to brake failure. Heading into the fifth round in China, Ferrari trails Red Bull by 21 points in the Constructors’ Championship, while Mercedes struggles to catch up, sitting in fourth place, 107 points behind Red Bull, with their best result being George Russell’s fifth place in Bahrain.