Max Verstappen has been a powerhouse in Formula One for years, but it’s becoming obvious that his streak of championships might be coming to an end.
The 27-year-old Dutch driver has dominated much of the ground effect era, but 2025 looks very different from the seasons that came before.
From Prodigy to F1 Superstar
Verstappen’s journey started when he was just 17, making his debut with Toro Rosso — Red Bull’s sister team.
Even then, it was clear he had something special. His speed and racecraft grabbed everyone’s attention.
By 2016, he was promoted to the main Red Bull team, and he quickly made history by winning the Spanish Grand Prix that year.
At just 18, he became the youngest ever winner of an F1 race, taking advantage of a collision between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.
Battling Mercedes During Their Dominance
For several years, Mercedes ruled the sport, but Verstappen was still managing to win races — 10 in total during that tough era.
That’s impressive considering Red Bull was usually playing catch-up as the second or third fastest team on the grid.
The Controversial 2021 Championship Battle
The 2021 season was one of the most intense in F1 history.
Red Bull and Mercedes went head to head, with Verstappen and Hamilton pushing each other to the limit.
They collided multiple times, and the championship lead swapped back and forth. Going into the final race, they were tied on points.
What happened next became the stuff of legend — or controversy.
After Hamilton led most of the race, a late Safety Car period shuffled the pack.
Race director Michael Masi’s decision to let some lapped cars overtake to line up between Hamilton and Verstappen gave Max the chance to use fresher tires and overtake Hamilton on the last lap, winning his first world title.
Dominating Seasons and Records
After that dramatic win, Verstappen didn’t slow down. In 2022, he won 15 of 22 races, showing peak performance with Red Bull.
The following year, his dominance was almost unmatched — 19 wins out of 21 races with the RB19.
That season is considered one of the greatest in Formula One history.
A New Challenge in 2024 and 2025
Even the best face hurdles. The departure of Red Bull’s legendary aerodynamicist Adrian Newey saw the team’s performance dip slightly in 2024.
Still, Verstappen held strong enough to clinch his fourth straight title, edging out fierce competition like McLaren’s Lando Norris.
Now, 2025 is a turning point. The ground effect era is wrapping up, and new regulations set for 2026 promise big changes.
Ford is joining Red Bull as an engine supplier, and so far this season, McLaren is proving to have the fastest car, winning seven out of nine races.
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are leading the charge, while Verstappen’s form has been inconsistent, including a disappointing Spanish Grand Prix.
Is Verstappen’s Fifth Title Out of Reach?
With Red Bull’s dominance fading and new rivals rising, many fans and experts think Verstappen’s chance to grab a fifth championship might be slipping away.
The 2025 season’s early signs don’t look promising for the Dutchman.