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Verstappen rewrites the history of Formula 1

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The chaotic resolution of the Japanese GP allowed the Dutch driver to complete what, sooner or later, was going to happen: win, and in what way, his second World Championship

Since this Sunday, Max Verstappen has become the last multi-time Formula 1 world champion after winning his second wound. In a Japanese GP that will give a lot to talk about for sporting and non-sporting reasons, the Dutchman confirmed with four races to spare what was going to fall like ripe fruit. Nobody, except the most unconscious, believed that he was going to escape.

The way to win the second World Cup is almost a declaration of intent. Verstappen cannot take a title with ease. He already happened to him in 2021 with the first, when a championship for the annals of history was resolved in an unforgettable Abu Dhabi GP, raising it to Lewis Hamilton himself. Although this year he hasn’t had to suffer as much, the chaotic Suzuka round reaffirmed the idea that he is a driver who attracts chaos. Like a black hole that sucks in everything that comes near it, the more his stats grow, the clearer it becomes that the Dutchman gets bigger in these situations.

His statistics, which are already spectacular, will soon fall short. After the race in Japan, he has two World Championships, 32 victories (tied with Alonso in these two aspects, but 16 years younger), 18 pole positions, 21 fastest laps, 74 podiums… At 25 years old, he is breaking all records and few doubt that that will destroy them sooner rather than later. He has, at the very least, ten years left in Formula 1 and except for surprise he will not stop being among the greats on the grid. Much would have to change the ‘status quo’ for his reign to fall short.

Verstappen proclaims himself two-time world champion among grotesque

The champion that F1 needs

Max Verstappen is by no means an eccentric driver. If Hamilton has opted to take his passion for fashion to the limits of good taste while establishing himself as the champion of the social struggle that he touches, the latest Red Bull jewel only does what he knows best: win.

The fans understood it from the first moment. He came to F1 skipping many steps, directly to the Toro Rosso seat because it was the ordeal that Helmut Marko, his great defender, had to launch so that Mercedes did not pick him up. The bet, risky, went quite well, seen what was seen.

His success is also that of his father. Jos Verstappen went through F1 without much glory, possibly weighed down by the time in which he had to race and share the track and box with the greatest legend of all time in the competition, Michael Schumacher, when he was still on his way to it. He soon realized that he was not going to be able to shine by himself if he had the sun next to him.

Therefore, he turned to his son. Max Verstappen grew up on wheels. These days an old photo of a ruddy boy climbed on an F1 Honda who, years later, was going to defend that same shield under the colors of Red Bull, was recovered. You can’t understand the perfect machine that ‘Mad Max’ is becoming if you don’t look at the roots implanted in him by his implacable father. Without reaching sordid limits, Jos ‘The Boss’ was the one who pushed, like so many other parents, his son through the door that he never got to cross: success.

After what he experienced in 2021, this 2022 has been his confirmation. Hamilton fans, especially the most sectarian, dirty the milestone of the Dutchman accusing him of cheating and collusion with the FIA ​​to avoid the eighth title of his idol. Verstappen needed to claim himself for what he is, a great diamond that was not easy to polish in his early years and that little by little has become the jewel that it is.

Formula 1 appreciates it and encourages it. They are aware that the stones that were laid a few seasons ago can culminate in a giant mountain, which will endure through the annals of history. Because, there is no doubt, like those who look at Naranjo de Bulnes, Teide or even Kilimanjaro today, in many years they will look at the history of F1 and there it will be, carved in gold letters, the name of Max Emilian Verstappen . What is not yet known, but is suspected, is whether he will be like the greatest champion of all time or just one who lifted millions of fans around the world from their seats.

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