Max Verstappen’s fourth consecutive championship victory at the Las Vegas GP allowed the Dutchman to equal two other drivers in Formula 1 history who have reached this milestone. In addition to Alain Prost, who was crowned champion in 1985, 1986, 1989, and 1993, the 27-year-old now shares the same number of titles as a former Red Bull driver who also won four consecutive championships with the Milton Keynes team from 2010 to 2013: Sebastian Vettel.
After Sebastian Vettel’s dominant era, the German tried to add another title to his collection while driving for Ferrari, but he faced a young Max Verstappen, sparking a rivalry marked by on-track clashes. Over time, and following Sebastian Vettel’s retirement after a stint with Aston Martin, the 37-year-old praised his former adversary in an interview with German media for reaching this historic milestone. “I’m very happy for him; he’s doing better than anyone else right now,” Vettel commented. “We’re also regularly in contact and get along well. It’s great to see he no longer relies on brute force but maintains an overall perspective, which is exactly what I mean. If you take a step back—and I can do that these days—you see things differently. Even though we had one or two misunderstandings in the past, that’s part of the process.”
Analyzing Max Verstappen’s current attributes, former Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel highlighted the elements that have contributed to the Dutchman’s development: “At the moment, he has managed to keep his cool and focus on what truly matters,” he added. “He has simply made the most of the last few years. If you look at his career, he has matured immensely. Now, he’s even faster, though he had that speed from day one. Speed matters, but talent, as I’ve said, is something you either have or don’t. What sets him apart now is that he almost never makes mistakes and is present in all the critical moments. That’s what truly distinguishes champions.”
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