Max Verstappen is only 24 years old but he’s been on one hell of a Formula 1 journey so far – and it’s only getting better.
Holding his biggest-ever title lead (93 points over Charles Leclerc) and in such superlative form that even winning from 14th on the grid in Belgium was barely a surprise, Verstappen arrives for a Dutch GP homecoming in the greatest position of his dazzling career to date.
It has been a season that has affirmed the paddock’s suspicions that the Dutchman has evolved into a complete F1 driver.
And that’s something that can be said of very few in the sport’s history.
“Max has added title-battling experience to the already prodigious amount of god-given talent,” wrote Sky Sports F1’s Karun Chandhok in a recent column.
“There’s seemingly no weakness now, which is ominous for the opposition, not just this year but in the future too.”
