Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz has sparked fresh debate in the Formula 1 paddock by boldly asserting that Max Verstappen’s dominance isn’t insurmountable when cars are on a level playing field. Reflecting on the second half of the 2024 season, Sainz insists that Verstappen’s superiority wanes under competitive parity, with multiple drivers capable of beating the four-time champion “week in, week out.”
Verstappen’s Championship: A Tale of Two Halves
Max Verstappen clinched his fourth consecutive Drivers’ Championship at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, securing the title with two races to spare. The season started in familiar fashion for the Dutchman, with seven wins in the first 10 races giving him a commanding lead. However, Red Bull’s dominance faltered in the latter half of the season, ushering in a more competitive grid where Ferrari, McLaren, and Mercedes claimed victories.
Despite a 10-race winless streak, Verstappen managed to extract the maximum from his RB20, including a masterclass victory from 17th on the grid in Brazil that all but sealed his title. The Red Bull star contends that he didn’t have the best car for “75% of the season” and argued that he could’ve won the championship even earlier with Ferrari or McLaren’s machinery.
Sainz: The Playing Field Matters
Sainz, however, sees a different picture. While praising Verstappen’s exceptional consistency and mistake-free performance, the Ferrari driver highlighted that the tighter competition in the second half of the season revealed a more vulnerable side of the reigning champion.
“Max has done an incredible job this year, no doubt,” Sainz acknowledged. “But the second half of the season, with eight drivers within a tenth of each other, shows that we could all beat him week in, week out in equal machinery.”
Sainz believes Verstappen’s ability to dominate with a superior car earlier in the season was unquestionable. However, the closer margins and increased competition post-summer break exposed how drivers like himself, Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton, and others could challenge Verstappen when machinery gaps narrowed.
The Pressure of Parity
Red Bull’s struggles reached their nadir at the Italian Grand Prix, prompting Verstappen to call the RB20 a “monster” and vent frustration at its unpredictability. Sainz noted that this added pressure was evident in Verstappen’s demeanor and performance.
“When you don’t have that two or three-tenths margin on your rivals or even your teammate, the pressure ramps up,” Sainz explained. “Everyone starts making mistakes, complaining about their car, and feeling the heat. It’s human nature.”
The Spaniard argued that Verstappen’s frustration was a product of competing under tighter conditions, where every small error is magnified.
Looking Ahead: A Level Playing Field?
As the 2024 season draws to a close, Ferrari, McLaren, and Mercedes are all eyeing further progress to close the gap to Red Bull in 2025. The resurgence of competition has rekindled the possibility of dethroning Verstappen, particularly if performance gaps continue to shrink.
Sainz, buoyed by Ferrari’s gains in the second half of the season, believes the fight is far from over.
“It’s not about taking anything away from Max—he’s the driver of the year for me. But when the field tightens, it’s clear we can go toe-to-toe with him and make life difficult. That’s what makes this sport so exciting.”
With two races left and a competitive grid eager to carry their momentum into 2025, the battle for supremacy in Formula 1 is poised to intensify. Whether Verstappen can maintain his grip on the championship amid rising pressure remains to be seen, but Sainz’s comments signal a growing belief that the once-invincible Dutchman may not be untouchable after all.