#1 · Red Bull
Max Verstappen
Four-time champion. The bar everyone else is measuring themselves against.
The youngest race winner in F1 history. A four-time World Champion known for ruthless racecraft, late braking, and a complete inability to lift in the wet.
Why he matters
Max Verstappen is the defining driver of the current era. He won his first race at 18 (still the youngest ever), his first championship at 24 in one of the most controversial finishes in the sport’s history (Abu Dhabi 2021), and then dominated the next three seasons in a Red Bull car many regard as the best Newey-designed chassis since the Schumacher-Ferrari era.
How he drives
If you’ve heard commentators say a driver is “on the limit,” watch Verstappen for an hour and you’ll understand what that means. He brakes later than anyone, holds the steering wheel steadier in heavy understeer, and simply does not back out of moves other drivers would. In the wet he’s untouchable.
Watch for
- His radio messages. He’s curt, often funny, and unfiltered.
- Starts off pole. He’s exceptionally good at converting pole positions into race wins.
- Wet-weather races, especially Spa, where he’s effectively a different driver from the rest of the grid.
Career receipts
Through the 2026 season
65
Race wins
115
Podiums
45
Pole positions
4
Championships
Last race
Decoder breakdown of the most recent round