MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 23: Max Verstappen, from the Netherlands, and Oracle Red Bull Racing prepare to drive in the garage during qualifying ahead of the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix at Albert Park Circuit on March 23, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
Verstappen has been virtually unbeatable since he won his first Formula 1 championship under controversial circumstances in 2021. Since then, he has been on a path to greatness, adding two more world titles to his name, with a fourth title this season looking almost certain.
In addition to championship success, Verstappen has amassed an impressive 36 Grand Prix victories since the beginning of 2022. While some sections of the media and Formula 1 fans in reputable forums express their boredom with Verstappen’s dominance as the King of F1, it is important to remember that this level of domination is not unprecedented.
We have witnessed similar periods of dominance from other legendary drivers in the past, such as Lewis Hamilton with Mercedes, Sebastian Vettel at Red Bull, Michael Schumacher at Ferrari, and Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost at McLaren. It seems convenient for some to forget the boredom that accompanied the reign of these drivers.
Jacques Villeneuve, speaking to the OLBG media team, shared his thoughts on the matter in his typical straightforward style. He pointed out that drivers like Senna, Prost, Michael, and Lewis were also admired during their periods of dominance. Lewis, in particular, was praised for his consistent wins, often overtaking the entire field in his Mercedes. However, no one complained about his dominance in the same way they do with Verstappen.
Villeneuve questioned why there is so much commotion around Verstappen’s domination, suggesting it may be because he is seen as a tough guy who can handle criticism. He believes that if Verstappen were a crybaby or fake, trying to please everyone, no one would complain. Verstappen’s strict upbringing shaped the driver he is today, and clearly it paid off.
Villeneuve acknowledged that F1 is a high-profile sport, almost without privacy. Unless a driver’s private life becomes everyone’s business, they will continue to face criticism. However, Verstappen remains unfazed by all of this. He is focused only on racing and winning, without worrying about being liked. Villeneuve admires Verstappen’s authenticity and honesty, appreciating that there are no gray areas with him.
In many ways, Jacques sees similarities between Verstappen and his own father, F1 legend Gilles Villeneuve. Both drivers have a straightforward and no-nonsense attitude that commands respect.
As Verstappen prepares for the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend, he aims to secure his 36th pole position and claim his 57th Grand Prix victory in his 189th start.
