With two races left, Max Verstappen was crowned Formula 1 champion today. Although the Dutchman came in fifth place and the Las Vegas GP he took it George Russell (Mercedes-Benz), the driver of Red Bull surpassed Lando Norriswho came sixth, and with this the title was defined thanks to the accumulated points in the classification table.
This consecration is the fourth he has achieved in his career and in a row, after the 2021, 2022 and 2023 World Cups. By becoming four-time champion, has entered the top 10 of most successful drivers of the competition and has equaled sports legends such as Alain Prost y Sebastian VettelHowever, there is still a long way to go to reach the first.
It is about Michael Schumacher y Lewis Hamilton, who have lifted the trophy in seven opportunities and, just like Verstappenalso managed to achieve four or more consecutive consecrations. However, in addition to the difficulty of winning a world title, the Englishman is still active and could continue adding more trophies to his cabinets.
Schumacher he won his first world championship in 1994 with Benetton and became two-time champion a year later (1995) with the same team. After leaving for Ferraricould not win the title until 2000, when he won his third World Cup, and there began a glorious era of five crowns that led him to be four-time champion in 2001, five-time champion in 2002 (equaling Fangio) and in 2003 became the first driver in history to win six world championships. In 2004 he raised his count to seven titles, something never seen before until Hamiltonequaled his mark in 2020.
The former German driver retired completely from Formula 1 on October 4, 2012, after having returned from a break he took in his career between 2006 and 2010, and after the confirmation of Mercedes Benz that he would not renew his contract: “It’s time to say goodbye. I have lost motivation and energyundoubtedly necessary,” he commented on his website when announcing his retirement. “I have decided to end my career in Formula 1 at the end of this season, aware of being able to still remain among the best in the world“, he concluded before the media.
After retirement, life played tricks on him. On December 29, 2013, while skiing with his family in the Swiss Alps, he hit his head on a stonewhich caused serious brain injuries. The former pilot was rushed to the hospital and from that moment is in a vegetative statewith no possibility of recovery.
Top 10 F1 world champions
1. Michael Schumacher (1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004): 7
2. Lewis Hamilton (2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020): 7
3. Juan Manuel Fangio (1951, 1954,1955, 1956, 1957): 5
4. Alain Prost (1985, 1986, 1989, 1993): 4
5. Sebastian Vettel (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013): 4
6.Max Verstappen (2021, 2022, 2023): 4
7. Jack Brabham (1959, 1960, 1966): 3
8. Jackie Stewart (1969, 1971, 1973): 3
9. Niki Lauda (1975, 1977, 1984): 3rd
10. Nelson Piquet (1981, 1983, 1987): 3
