They were waiting for him. Sir Jack Brabham, Sir Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda, Nelson Piquet and Ayrton Senna, installed there in the Olympus of the great myths, opened the door to Max Verstappen as a new member of the select club of three-time Formula 1 champions. The Dutchman, Proclaimed mathematical champion in the Sprint Race of the Qatar GP, he is already the second youngest 'tri' in history, only surpassed by Sebastian Vettel (2010-12), by just 8 months.
The difference, in favor of the German, is notable: Seb achieved his third crown at the age of 25, but much earlier, with 101 races and in his 6th championship; Verstappen catches up with him after 179 races and in his 9th World Championship. Also in recent years the championships are longer, with more races...
The Dutchman was predestined to break all precocity records when Helmut Marko took him under his protective wing at Red Bull. His debut in Formula 1 at the age of 17 years and 5 months made him the youngest debutant in history. He would then be the earliest to score points, to lead a race, to achieve a podium, to savor a victory and score a best race lap. Only Vettel held the record of youngest champion in history (and also two-time champion and three-time champion) despite being born three months before the Dutchman.
In this duel of youth talents, Verstappen managed in Qatar with his third crown to overthrow three references in history in precocity: the greatest myth, Ayrton Senna (in five years), and the two drivers with the most titles, Michael Schumacher (also in five years) and Lewis Hamilton (in four years), whom the Dutchman surpasses in youth. Such is the magnitude of the Red Bull blonde phenomenon.
Without yet having reached full maturity, at 26 years old, and with Red Bull's immovable hegemony in this hybrid F1, Verstappen could further consolidate his empire with at least two more crowns before the new era of new engines begins in 2026 (with more electric parts, a new revolution) and new motorists (Audi and Porsche, among others).
A change of hierarchy on the grid will hardly occur under these current parameters, beyond an approximation of the Ferraris and Aston Martin: the distance from Red Bull is still astronomical.
Thus, reaching (or surpassing) the seven world championships of Schumacher and Hamilton seems more than feasible for the Dutch myth-buster.
