Is Max Verstappen the Best of All Time?

Not yet conclusively, but he is already among Formula 1’s all-time greats and the defining driver of this era. As of late 2024, Verstappen’s peak dominance—especially in 2023—rivals the finest seasons in F1 history, yet declaring a single “greatest of all time” depends on criteria that span longevity, versatility across regulations and teams, and the strength of competition. His trajectory suggests he could finish as the consensus No. 1, but the debate remains open.

The Case for Verstappen

Verstappen’s rise from prodigious talent to serial winner has been punctuated by records, relentless racecraft, and a consistency that has reset expectations in modern F1. His peak form places him in the company of Hamilton, Schumacher, Senna, Fangio, and Clark—names that define the sport’s pantheon.

Unmatched Peak Seasons

Across 2022–2023, Verstappen delivered two of the most dominant campaigns in the sport’s history, with 2023 standing out as a statistical outlier even by F1’s high standards.

The following list highlights records and markers from Verstappen’s peak that underpin his all-time case:

• Most wins in a season: 19 (2023), eclipsing previous benchmarks set by Vettel and Schumacher.
• Highest single-season win rate in the modern era: 86.4% (19 wins in 22 races in 2023).
• Most consecutive wins: 10 (2023), setting a new all-time record.
• Single-season points record: 575 (2023), reflecting dominant pace and metronomic consistency.
• Most laps led in a season: over 1,000 in 2023, the first driver to surpass that threshold.
• Podium frequency: 21 podiums in 22 races in 2023, a record-setting conversion of opportunities.

Taken together, these achievements describe an apex that few, if any, have matched in a single season; they are central to arguments placing Verstappen at or near the top historically.

Craft and Consistency

Beyond raw speed, Verstappen’s toolkit—tyre management, strategic patience, precision under pressure, and adaptability in changing conditions—has turned strong cars into untouchable packages.

These performance aspects help explain why his dominance often looks inevitable rather than opportunistic:

• Qualifying-to-race conversion: regularly turns front-row starts into controlled victories, minimizing strategic exposure.
• Tyre and pace management: builds and sustains race-winning deltas without incurring reliability or degradation penalties.
• Wet-weather prowess: repeated elite performances in rain amplify advantages when others falter.
• Traffic and restarts: incisive overtaking and composed safety-car restarts limit volatility.
• Error rate: notably low unforced errors across long stretches, a hallmark of sustained dominance.

These strengths compress the randomness of modern F1, making Verstappen’s winning arcs look routine even when margins are small.

The Counterarguments

Greatness in F1 is inseparable from machinery, timing, and opposition. Critics of a definitive Verstappen-as-GOAT verdict point to structural factors that complicate direct comparisons.

The following caveats shape a more cautious conclusion:

• Car advantage: The Red Bull RB19 (2023) was one of the most dominant machines of the hybrid era, amplifying results beyond driver contribution alone.
• Teammate benchmark: Sergio Pérez is a capable race winner but is not broadly rated alongside Hamilton’s top teammates (e.g., Rosberg, Button, Alonso) or Schumacher’s fiercest rivals at their peaks.
• Era effects: Modern reliability and strategy reduce attrition-driven randomness compared to earlier decades, aiding accumulation of records.
• Limited multi-team sample: Aside from his early Toro Rosso stint, Verstappen’s career-defining success has come within one organization; the GOAT bar often includes multi-team title success.
• 2021 context: The controversial Abu Dhabi finale remains a footnote in any retrospective, even if it doesn’t define his subsequent dominance.

These points don’t diminish Verstappen’s skill but underscore why “best ever” demands a wider lens than peak-year statistics.

Comparing Across Eras

Any GOAT debate must weigh raw totals, dominance within context, and cross-era translation. F1 has evolved through different safety standards, reliability norms, calendar lengths, and competitive structures.

Headline Numbers vs. Rivals

The names typically invoked in all-time discussions represent different flavors of supremacy—longevity, peak dominance, or artistry under pressure.

Here are the most-cited comparators and what they bring to the table:

• Lewis Hamilton: 7 world titles; all-time records for wins and poles; sustained excellence across regulation eras and teams (McLaren, Mercedes).
• Michael Schumacher: 7 world titles; transformational Ferrari era; redefined fitness and team culture while amassing 91 victories.
• Juan Manuel Fangio: 5 titles in the 1950s across multiple teams; unmatched title strike rate amid extreme mechanical risk.
• Ayrton Senna: 3 titles; iconic qualifying speed and wet-weather virtuosity; 65 poles in an era of fierce competition.
• Jim Clark: 2 titles; towering win and pole rates in limited starts; peerless car control across multiple disciplines.

The deeper question is “what do we value most?” If it’s peak-season dominance, Verstappen’s 2023 belongs at the very top. If it’s breadth, longevity, and adaptability across teams and rules, Hamilton and Schumacher still set the standard.

Era-Adjusted Perspectives

Independent analyst models that adjust for field size, teammate strength, and reliability tend to place Verstappen at or near the top after 2023, with Hamilton and Schumacher close depending on weighting. While methodologies differ, a rough consensus emerges: Verstappen already fits within the sport’s top tier, with room to climb as his career matures.

What Would Likely Settle the Debate

Verstappen’s case could move from “one of the greatest” to “the greatest” if he expands his résumé beyond peak dominance and team continuity.

The following milestones are often cited as decisive:

• Titles across eras and rules: Adding championships after the 2026 power-unit and aero overhaul would showcase adaptability.
• Longevity: Sustained winning into his 30s, maintaining pace amid new rivals and technologies.
• Multi-team success: Winning extensively with a second works program would echo Hamilton and Schumacher’s cross-team legacies.
• Elite teammate benchmark: Dominating a teammate widely regarded as top-tier would strengthen intra-garage credentials.
• Career totals: Closing on all-time records for wins and titles, which remain the cleanest shorthand for the general audience.

None of these are prerequisites for greatness, but together they tend to close the argument in historical debates.

Verdict

Verstappen is the outstanding driver of the current ground-effect era and already a legitimate all-time great. Whether he is the best ever depends on how one balances peak dominance against longevity, team breadth, and competitive context. As of late 2024, he is on a trajectory that could make the case irresistible—yet the crown of undisputed GOAT still demands a few more chapters.

Summary

Max Verstappen’s 2023 season stands as one of the most dominant in F1 history, and his broader body of work places him firmly in the sport’s top echelon. However, the title of greatest ever hinges on criteria beyond peak form—especially longevity, success across teams and regulations, and the quality of opposition. He may get there, but for now, the fairest conclusion is that he’s the defining talent of his era and still writing his legacy.

Who is considered the goat of F1?

There isn’t a single, definitive GOAT of F1 as the title is hotly contested, but Lewis Hamilton is statistically considered the GOAT due to his records for most wins, podiums, and poles, along with sharing the record for most Drivers’ World Championships with Michael Schumacher. Other drivers, like Michael Schumacher and the legendary Ayrton Senna, are also frequently mentioned in GOAT discussions for their achievements and skills, while some argue that factors beyond statistics, such as car performance and driving skill in different eras, make comparisons difficult. 
Drivers most often considered the GOAT:

• Lewis Hamilton: Opens in new tabHe holds the record for the most wins, poles, and podiums in F1 history and has won seven Drivers’ World Championships, the same number as Michael Schumacher. 
• Michael Schumacher: Opens in new tabHe is tied with Hamilton for the most Drivers’ World Championships, with seven titles, and was long considered the GOAT before Hamilton’s dominant run. 
• Ayrton Senna: Opens in new tabDespite having only three World Championships, Senna is considered a GOAT by many due to his otherworldly driving skills and raw talent, especially in challenging conditions, which are seen as exceeding his statistical achievements. 

Why the GOAT debate is difficult: 

• Different eras: F1 has evolved significantly since its early days, with changes in car technology, safety, and regulations, making direct comparisons across generations challenging.
• Car dependency: The performance of the car and team played a significant role in a driver’s success, meaning that statistical dominance isn’t the only factor.
• Beyond statistics: Some argue that “greatness” involves more than just wins and titles, encompassing factors like technical ability, charisma, and the ability to elevate a team.

Who is the greatest F1 driver of all time?

There’s no single “greatest F1 driver” as it’s a subjective topic, but Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher are most frequently cited as contenders, with Hamilton holding the records for most wins and poles and Schumacher setting the benchmark for dominance in his era. Other drivers frequently mentioned include legendary figures like Ayrton Senna and Juan Manuel Fangio, while younger fans often point to the dominant performances of current drivers like Max Verstappen. 
Here’s a breakdown of the top contenders and why they’re considered great:
Lewis Hamilton

• Records: Holds the records for most wins (105), pole positions, and podium finishes, and shares the record for seven World Championships. 
• Dominance: Rose to prominence quickly, outperforming a reigning double world champion teammate in his rookie season. 
• Popularity: He is credited with boosting the sport’s global popularity. 

Michael Schumacher 

• Dominance: Dominated F1 with five consecutive titles for Ferrari from 2000 to 2004. 
• Influence: Set a standard for ambition, dedication, and excellence that influenced future generations of drivers. 
• Versatility: Excelled in two different eras of the sport, winning championships with Benetton and Ferrari. 

Other Legends

• Ayrton Senna: Opens in new tabOften considered the benchmark for pure talent, known for his speed and skill. 
• Juan Manuel Fangio: Opens in new tabConsidered one of the greatest of all time based on pure talent and success in the early eras of F1. 
• Niki Lauda: Opens in new tabKnown for his resilience and incredible comeback after a near-fatal crash, as well as his three World Championships. 
• Max Verstappen: Opens in new tabA dominant force in recent years, known for his speed and consecutive wins, with some considering him the fastest driver currently on the circuit. 

Factors to Consider

• Era: Drivers in different eras faced different technologies, car capabilities, and competition, making direct comparisons difficult. 
• Team and Car: A strong car is crucial in F1, but so is the driver’s ability to extract maximum performance from it and their relationship with the team. 
• Subjectivity: While statistics are important, factors like driving style, ambition, and inspiration also play a role in shaping public and expert opinion on who is the “greatest”. 

What is the 75% rule in F1?

The “75% rule” in Formula 1 dictates that full points are awarded for shortened races if the leader has completed at least 75% of the scheduled distance. If the race is shortened to between 50% and 75% of the distance, the points awarded to the top-10 finishers are reduced proportionally. However, if the race is not completed and doesn’t reach this 50% mark (or if the leader doesn’t complete a minimum of two laps), then no points are awarded.
 
How it works:

• Full Points (Over 75%): Opens in new tabIf a race is completed, or resumed after a stoppage, and the leader crosses the finish line after covering 75% or more of the scheduled race distance, full points are awarded as if the race was run to its full length. 
• Reduced Points (50%-75%): Opens in new tabIf a race is suspended and not resumed to complete 75% distance, but the leader has completed more than 50% but less than 75% of the scheduled distance, points are awarded on a reduced scale. For example, the winner would receive 19 points instead of 25. 
• No Points (Less than 50%): Opens in new tabIf a race is not completed at all and the leader has completed fewer than two full laps, no points are awarded to any drivers. 

Important Considerations:

• Safety Cars: Opens in new tabThe rule also takes into account Safety Car and Virtual Safety Car interventions when determining the race distance covered. 
• Resumed Races: Opens in new tabEven if a race is unable to complete its full scheduled distance due to time constraints (like the 3-hour race window), full points are awarded if the race was suspended and then resumed for at least two laps before the end of the event. 

Can Max still win 2025?

Yes, Max Verstappen still has a chance to win the 2025 F1 World Championship, although it’s a significant challenge. Following back-to-back wins at Monza and Baku, he has momentum and is now within a more manageable 69-point distance from the championship leader Oscar Piastri, with seven races left. His strong performance demonstrates his talent, but winning the title will require continued perfect execution and potential missteps from the leading McLaren team. 
Arguments for his chances:

• Back-to-back wins: Verstappen has recent victories at Monza and Baku, showing increased pace from the Red Bull package. 
• Momentum: These wins have reduced the large points gap to the McLaren drivers, giving him significant momentum. 
• Red Bull’s potential: The team’s strong performance, particularly with some upgrades, indicates they have a competitive package capable of winning races. 
• McLaren’s vulnerability: McLaren’s strong lead could be reduced by internal team mistakes, complacency, or errors from their drivers. 

Factors against him:

• Points deficit: A 69-point gap to the championship leader with only seven races remaining is still a substantial hurdle. 
• McLaren’s strength: The McLaren cars are very fast, described as being “almost Red Bull-2023-esque” in performance. 
• Need for perfection: Verstappen and the Red Bull team must perform flawlessly in the remaining races for him to have a real shot at the championship. 
• Relying on rivals: He needs both McLaren drivers, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, to falter and lose points for him to close the gap.