Debate: Will Max Verstappen's reputation be hindered if he continues to dominate Formula 1?

In sports such as Football, NFL, Basketball and Baseball, teams that go on to win 3, 4 or even 5 consecutive championships are known as a dynasty and their achievements are talked about with little criticism. Rival fans of the likes of Manchester City, the New England Patriots, the New York Yankees and the LA Lakers will always take issue with teams dominating, but the wider press, pundits and neutral fans will have massive respect for teams that are able to take and keep themselves at the top. However, Formula 1 is very different. If a driver wins 3, 4 or 5 World Championships in a row, whilst people will respect the driver's ability, people will always label their achievements down to the competitiveness of the field compared to the championship-winning car as well as how good the World Champions teammate is. So in the first of what I hope to be many debate topics on this website, I ask the question “Will Max Verstappen’s reputation be hindered if he continues to dominate Formula 1?”. To do this, I will go over Max Verstappen’s championship-winning/contending seasons as well as other drivers that have either lost out slightly because of dominating the sport or drivers that have maybe gained due to winning their titles in a close battle.

Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen debuted in Formula 1 in 2015 and after 6 seasons, he entered 2021 with a car that was finally able to compete for a World Championship. What we as F1 fans witnessed was a brilliant and intense championship battle between the hungry Red Bull driver and Mercedes’ 7-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton. In a battle that went all the way down to the last lap of the last race of the season, it was Max Verstappen who claimed the championship trophy. Putting the controversy surrounding the ending of the race to one side, this was a joyous moment for fans of the Dutchman or people that had got tired of Hamilton and Mercedes' dominance (we’ll get to that later). In 2022, Max Verstappen managed to make it back-to-back World titles, but this time, it was a lot easier for him. Verstappen sealed his second World Championship in Japan, 4 rounds before the end of the season and he ended up winning the championship by a massive 146 points which isn’t particularly exciting. So far in 2023, Max has won 3 of the first 5 rounds of the season and he currently leads his teammate Sergio Perez in the championship by 14 points. On paper, that doesn’t sound too bad. However, we are still yet to see Checo match Verstappen on traditional racing circuits.

Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton started his Formula 1 career in 2007 and since then, he’s gone on to win 7 World Drivers’ Championships. Lewis’ first World Championship came in 2008, where he overtook Timo Glock in the final corner of the final lap in the final race of the season to beat home favourite Felipe Massa to the World Championship title by a point. Hamilton’s second world Championship came in 2014 when he sealed the title over teammate Nico Rosberg in the final race of the season whilst 2015 was more comfortable for the Brit as he sealed the championship in COTA with 3 races left to go. Lewis’ dominant era then really kicked in between 2017 to 2020 where he managed to win 4 World Championships in a row. He wrapped up his 4th, 5th and 6th titles with 2 races to go (two in Mexico, one in America) whilst he sealed his record-equalling 7th World Drivers’ title with 3 races to go in Turkey. In that period, his closest championship challenger was Sebastian Vettel (46 points behind in 2017) whilst his biggest championship gap was 124 points in 2020 (Valtteri Bottas finished second). It’s also worth mentioning that he missed a race in 2020 due to having Covid. Whilst 2008 and 2014 were hard-fought titles wins and you could argue Nico Rosberg didn’t perform as well as he should’ve on in 2015, his 4 title wins between 2017 and 2020 are perceived by many to be down to the dominance of his Mercedes car as well as Valtteri Bottas not being good enough to win a World Championship. Also, Lewis missed out on the championship in the final race of 2007, 2010, 2016 and 2021. Whilst he was an outsider in 2010, he definitely could’ve won the championship in the other 3 years. What this shows is whilst Lewis is still a brilliant driver for being able to put himself into a championship-winning/contending position, he may not have won as many championships as he had if his teammate/other cars were more competitive. Whilst lots of people call Lewis Hamilton “statistically the greatest of all time”, they tend to add in the world statistically as a sign of belief that the dominance of his car has played a big part in his success.

Michael Schumacher

Michael Schumacher drove a total of 18 full seasons in Formula 1 and in that time, the German managed 7 World Drivers’ Championships. Michael’s first World title came in 1994 when he beat Williams’ Damon Hill in the last race of the season by a point. However, it’s worth noting that he won the title in controversial fashion. In 1995, Schumacher sealed his second World Championship in more comfortable fashion as he won the title by 33 points (77 points in modern F1). However, Schumacher’s dominant era came in the early 2000s as he won 5 consecutive Drivers’ titles between 2000 and 2004. He wrapped up his third World title in the penultimate round of the season, his 4th with 4 races still to go, his 5th with a ridiculous 6 races to go, his 6th in the final round of the season and his final World Championship in 2004 with 4 rounds left. In that period, his closest championship challenger was Kimi Raikkonen in 2003 (2 points gap at the end, 26 in modern F1) whilst his biggest championship gap was 67 points in 2002 (159 points in modern F1). It’s fair to say that whilst a lot of people liked Michael Schumacher, there were also quite a few people that believed that he only won the number of championships that he did due to the dominance of his car, particularly his Ferrari. Michael also missed out on the championship in the final race of the 1997 (he was disqualified from the championship in the end), 1998 and 2006 seasons. I think this shows that whilst Schumacher was a fantastic racing driver, his dominance will always be perceived as dull and lots of people with credit the car for his achievements.

Sebastian Vettel

Sebastian Vettel spent 16 seasons in Formula 1 and during that time, he achieved 4 World Drivers’ Championships. Seb’s first World Championship came in the final race of the 2010 season when he managed to pull off an upset and win the title by 4 points. In 2011, Vettel sealed his second consecutive title in dominant fashion as he won the title with 4 rounds to go in Japan and he ended the season 122 points ahead of Jenson Button who finished second in the Championship. In 2012, Vettel made it 3-in-a-row by securing the title in the final race of the season (he beat Fernando Alonso by 3 points) before he won his 4th and final World Drivers’ title with 3 races to go in India and he ended up winning the championship by a massive 155 points. Whilst Sebastian went on to have small periods of brilliance, the German was never able to sustain a championship challenge again. A lot of people did not like Sebastian Vettel in this era of Formula 1, mainly down to how quick his Red Bull car was as well as the gap between him and his teammate Mark Webber. Now that was partly down to Vettel’s brilliance, but it was also down to the fact that Webber was not good enough to be World Champion. It’s fair to say that whilst Seb Vettel is in the top 5 for a lot of Formula 1 statistics, he’s not in a lot of people’s “top 5 greatest Formula 1 Drivers of all time” and that’s mainly down to the dominance of his Red Bull as well as his lack of performance post-2013.

Ayrton Senna

Ayrton Senna drove a total of 10 full seasons in Formula 1 and he managed to win the World Drivers’ Championship 3 times. Ayrton’s first World Championship came in 1988 when he beat teammate Alain Prost to the title by 3 points. Senna then won his second World Championship in 1990 as this time he beat teammate Prost by 7 points (in pretty controversial style). In 1991, Senna won his third and final World Drivers’ title with a race to go. Senna also controversially missed out on the championship in the 1989 season (to Alain Prost). Now it’s fair to say that Senna’s McLaren was pretty dominant in this era of Formula 1. However, Senna’s first two World Championships were one against an equally brilliant Prost and that’s kind of the reason why even though Senna’s only won 3 World titles, many perceive the Brazilian to be the greatest Formula 1 driver of all time.

Alain Prost

Alain Prost drove in Formula 1 for 13 seasons and during that time, he managed 4 World Drivers’ Championships. Alain’s first World Championship came in 1985 as he won the title by 20 points (69 points in modern F1) before he sealed his second consecutive title in the final race of the season against both Williams drivers Nigel Mansell and Nelson Piquet. Prost then achieved his 3 World Drivers’ title in 1989 as he beat teammate Ayrton Senna to the title in controversial fashion before Prost won his 4th and final World Championship with two races to go in the 1993 season (his final year in the sport). Prost also lost out on the championship in the final race of the 1982, 1983, 1984, 1988 and 1990 seasons which is mental. Two of Prost’s titles were down to his car being the quickest and his teammates' lack of performance, but his other two titles were won in titanic fashion against brilliant drivers. Even though Prost’s record of missing out on more World Championships than winning them isn’t great, it also shows how good of a driver he was, particularly when you think that there wasn’t a dominant team/driver combo in that era.

Fernando Alonso

Fernando Alonso is the most experienced driver in Formula 1 history and he’s also won 2 World Drivers’ Championships. Fernando’s first World Championship came in 2005 when he ended the dominance of Michael Schumacher and Ferrari to win the title with 2 rounds to go in Brazil. Alonso then got his second consecutive title in the final round of the 2006 season when he beat Michael Schumacher by 13 points (23 points in modern F1). Fernando then went on to miss out on the title in the final race of the 2007, 2010 and 2012 seasons. Like other drivers on this list, Fernando losing out on a few world titles isn’t great, but he also is one of the very few drivers that was never perceived to have a dominant car. Even though his 2005 championship win looks a bit comfortable, it was coming off the back of 5 consecutive titles for Michael Schumacher so most people were relieved and there definitely wasn’t a clear fastest car in 2006. It’s also worth mentioning how even now in 2023, Fernando is still one of the best drivers on the grid which is a true testament to his ability. In my opinion, Fernando Alonso’s career is the prime example of why someone who wins 2 World Championships can be perceived to be as good or even better than a 7-time World Champion as long as they never had a dominant car in their career.

Niki Lauda

Niki Lauda spent a total of 12 seasons in Formula 1 and during that time, he managed to achieve 3 World Drivers’ Championships. Niki’s first World Championship came in 1975 when he won the title by 19 and a half points (65 points in modern F1). Lauda then won his second World title with two rounds to go in the 1977 season before he won his third and final World Championship in 1984 (he beat teammate Alain Prost to the title by half a point). Lauda also missed out on the title in the final race of the 1976 season. I think Lauda definitely had the quickest car in his first two Championship seasons and I definitely think his third and final World Championship was definitely his best. However, I think the pace of his car in his first two championship seasons compared to the rest of the field is the reason why Niki Lauda doesn’t get mentioned in the category of “greatest Formula 1 Drivers of all time”.

Juan Manuel Fangio

Juan Manuel Fangio took part in 7 full seasons in Formula 1 and he managed to win 5 World Drivers’ Championships. Fangio’s first World Championship came in 1951 in the final race of the season. Fangio then went on to win four consecutive World Drivers’ titles between 1954 and 1957. He won his second and third World titles by 17 points (96.5 points in modern F1), his fourth in the final race of the 1956 season (3 points ahead of Sterling Moss) and his 5th and final World Championship by 15 points (58.5 points in modern F1). Fangio also missed out on the championship in the final round of the 1950 season. Even though this sounds like Fangio dominated the sport, you can’t say it was down to having a dominant car as he won 4 of his 5 World titles with different teams (Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Mercedes, Maserati). Because of this, Juan Manuel Fangio is a rare driver that you can only pin-point his dominance on just how brilliant a driver he truly was and that’s why I think he’s the greatest Formula 1 driver of all time.

Alberto Ascari

Finally, let’s talk about Alberto Ascari. Alberto Ascari drove properly in Formula 1 between 1950 and 1953 where he managed to win 2 World Drivers’ Championships. Ascari’s first World Championship came in 1952 when he won every race that he finished (6 out of 7). It’s worth mentioning that his teammate for those races was Giuseppe Farina, the inaugural Formula 1 World Champion. Ascari then won his second and final World Championship the following year as he beat Juan Manuel Fangio to the title. Ascari also lost out on the title in the final race of the season (to Fangio) in 1951. If you read my ultimate F1 Grid article from earlier on in the year, you would know that I gave Alberto Ascari the title due to the fact that he is so consistently finishing at the front. The two World titles that Ascari won were against the best drivers around in that era (and the greatest ever in my opinion) which shows the results in which he achieved were down to his brilliance.

Final Verdict:

After going over all of these different drivers from different eras of Formula 1, I do believe Max Verstappen’s reputation will be hindered if he continues to dominate F1. I definitely think Max can go on and win another 5 or 6 Drivers’ titles and like we’ve seen with some drivers, that doesn’t always put you as the “greatest of all time” if you’ve had a dominant car and haven’t had a teammate that’s capable of winning a World Championship. However, I still think Max Verstappen can become the greatest Formula 1 driver of all time as long as drivers and teams challenge him for the title on a consistent basis.

Do you think Max Verstappen’s reputation will be hindered if he continues to dominate Formula 1? Let me know in the Poll below.

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