Max Verstappen’s claim he would have won this year’s world championship in a McLaren or a Ferrari has been dismissed by his closest rivals in the points standings.
McLaren driver Lando Norris, whose chances of beating Verstappen to the championship ended last weekend, denied his rival would have won the title in his car.“Of course I’m going to say no,” he told Sky. “I know what Max is capable of doing. It depends: If there was no Red Bull, even I could have won. If there was no Red Bull and Max was not in the Red Bull, I would have won the championship.
“So I don’t believe it. I know what Max is capable of doing, and I like his confidence, but I can say whatever: I can say he was world champ but I can do this and that, but, not possible.”
Charles Leclerc, who is 84 points behind Verstappen in his Ferrari, also isn’t convinced his SF-24 was a potentially championship-winning car.
“Max is a very special driver and I think what makes him very special is also the confidence that he has,” said Leclerc. “However, I think it’s very difficult to say something like that not knowing actually what the car is like.”
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“I don’t know how the Red Bull is, I don’t know how the McLaren is and he doesn’t know how the Ferrari is,” Leclerc emphasised. “So it’s maybe a bit of a stretch to say something like that.”
“However, having said that, obviously second place in a year like this would mean a lot in a way because I think it’s not been an easy year.
“The priority remains the constructors’. However, the second place in the drivers’ would be a nice bonus. So it’s not like I don’t care at all but it will be a good thing to be finishing second after a year like this.”
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Jere (@jerejj)
28th November 2024, 19:55
Spot-on. Max should be careful with making such remarks since he can’t know for certain what other teams’ cars are like to drive, so definitively concluding he would’ve won earlier in the current McLaren & Ferrari is impossible.
Otherwise, we might as well declare that Sergio Perez or Nico Hulkenberg would be a multiple world champion had either one become a Mercedes driver for 2013 & beyond instead of Hamilton, which could’ve happened in an alternate reality scenario.
Gusm.ai
28th November 2024, 21:42
Maybe that is too far, but Bottas finished his seasons in Mercedes between 2nd and 3rd (with a 5th in this first year). while he was not the second or third best driver on the grid.
Alonslow
28th November 2024, 22:23
Actually Bottas was 3rd in his first year, and 5th in his second, both season were Mercedes were top dog but not the mighty car of 2014-2016, once Mercedes got back to being the fastest car he went back to 2nd both years, in 2020 Max kept him close but couldn’t pass him.
Not saying Max Chilton would have become a 5th time WDC but any of the usual point scorers in 2014-2020 for sure would have been multiple times champions.
Switch Jenson/Kmag with Rosberg/Hamilton and we would have 6th time world champion Jenson Button and multiple time race winner Kevin Magnussen and maybe 6th time world champion Vettel.
SPArtacus
29th November 2024, 4:29
The Mercedes is the worst example you could use. Rosberg is winning every title Hamilton did during those years. Someone of Bottas’ mediocrity probably loses one or maybe even two to the Ferrari/Vettel with the illegal engine.
Justin Walpole
29th November 2024, 11:04
Jenson doesn’t have enough quali speed to win 2018
Alonslow
28th November 2024, 22:16
They would for sure, people seem to forget how dominant Mercedes was, in 2014 they got all but 1 pole position and won all but 3 races, Canada in which Hamilton had brake problems and Nico still was 2nd, Hungary which was one of the few races in which the Mercedes looked vunerable (and had Hamilton starting last) and Spa in which Nico took out Lewis still got 2nd.
So yeah while I can believe the 2014 domination would go down a bit any one on the grid would win that year, that car was massively faster than everyone else.
And the same goes for 2015 which was crushed by Mercedes in a similar fashion (all but 1 pole, all but 3 races) and 2016 (all but 1 pole again, but only left 2 races to the others this time), 2017 and 2018 may be won by Vettel or whoever is on Ferrari but 2019 and 2020 is probably back to winning times for the Checo Hulk combo.
And for proof look no further than 2023 in which old and busted Perez was still 2nd in 2023 with a probably a bit less dominant car, so a younger faster Perez with Hulk would have crushed 2014, 2015 and 2016, and win 2019 and 2020 just with a bit more difficulty than Lewis had.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
29th November 2024, 0:00
But, assuming you only took one of perez and hulk, they wouldn’t have beaten rosberg in the merc: the number 2 goal is beating your team mate.
Alonslow
29th November 2024, 1:46
They probably wouldn’t, but I think Jere point was something of a ‘Perez or Hulk couldn’t switch and start winning in the Mercedes unlike Lewis’ well yeah because of Nico being a superior driver, not because the car is so different and hard to drive they can’t do it.
Max would easily switch to this year Mclaren, just like I would expect Lewis or Alonso to do it too and beat Piastri as well, Lando did, I think nobody would bet on Oscar.
Still it would be fun to see how this site would be if Lewis stayed at Mclaren and Hulk went to Mercedes, Nico could very well win 7 in a row and Hulk would have wins.
Jere (@jerejj)
29th November 2024, 7:08
Alonslow Somewhat like that, & either one alongside Rosberg would’ve indeed at the very least won a few races, if not a single championship.
Doh
29th November 2024, 11:08
If max really believes it he would be fine to switch teams. Don’t think he’s that confident. I have a feeling he could get fraud checked if he switches team and the car doesn’t really suit him bit like Riccardo
Tristan
28th November 2024, 20:03
To the victor go the spoils, but to the humble go the hearts
BMW P85 V10
28th November 2024, 20:08
I think Verstappen is right in saying he would have clinched the WDC with McLaren. Little bit in doubt about doing so in a Ferrari.
I think he also said it because of the trash talk the McLaren leadership fired on/ about him all season long. he’s now giving them some food for thought, like he already did literally with Zack Brown live on Sky.
pcxmac (@pcxmac)
28th November 2024, 20:41
he wouldnt have. mclaren were not really favoring lando until it was too late. and max cant deal with equal treatment, and if his teammate is competitive, he has to be removed or given second rate support.
marc marquez is the same, and when max loses his political favour, he wont be able to win any more. at least not at the rate he currently is.
SPArtacus
28th November 2024, 20:58
Oh god. We’ve debunked this excuse at length in about 10+ articles posted over the past 72 hours. Max easily wins the WDC in the McLaren. As for the Ferrari, maybe. Maybe not.
Ben
28th November 2024, 21:18
He really doesn’t. Max had a 60 point advantage after a few races. The McLaren was miles off the pace at the start of the season.
Max hasn’t won a race when he hasn’t had the fastest car. Brazil his RedBull was easily fastest in the wet and without the red flag he’d have been on pole easily.
People play down the RedBull because it didn’t dominate all season, but it was always a fast car and overall the best car of the season. RedBull haven’t had anywhere near the same up and downs as McLaren, Ferrari and McLaren.
SPArtacus
28th November 2024, 21:33
Max continued to outscore Norris even when Lando had, unquestionably, the better car. This isn’t rocket science. Max converted all 8 poles into wins. We all know about Lando’s conversion rate. The best argument you can make is that it’s neck and neck for the WDC. But do you really see Norris consistently pulling the RBR up the order by the scruff of its neck when it’s struggling and basically never leaving points on the table? I don’t and his track record certainly says other wise.
You’re right. RBR’s up and downs have been even bigger. Max just drove them through those ups and downs flawlessly. People say “we don’t know because of Perez.” Well, we kind of do. He was coming second every time the car was great. After that, the guy couldn’t even get out of Q1. Ups and downs don’t get bigger than that.
In the end, it’s all noise, because we know Max would beat Norris in equal machinery easily. And he’d beat Leclerc. Just less easily. I wish he wasn’t. Max has always rubbed me the wrong way. I’m just OK with accepting reality.
Doh
29th November 2024, 11:15
Even in Brazil he got stuck when he got to 6th place and got lucky. All i see all over F1 comment section is max being highly overrated. He good he’s great he’s not out of this world.
People are saying Brazil was the drive of the generation lol. It was just like when Lewis won in 2018 at hockenheim but i don’t remember that or other similar drives (Lewis in Brazil 21) being called the drive of the generation lol
In hockenheim and max in Brazil they drove fantasticly well and the race also fell to them. They did get lucky.
Why are the standards so low now lol
Sensationalism and hype, much like f1
BMW P85 V10
29th November 2024, 2:49
You claim Max outscored Norris once McLaren had the better car, but that wasn’t the case until Britain/Hungary. Norris outscored Max since then. Miami wasn’t the turning point, Norris wasn’t even challenging for a podium and got lucky that race. From the following 7 races the McLaren was only fighting for the win in Imola, Spain, and Austria. Austria was only because Red Bull screwed up the pitstop and ruined his dominant lead, McLaren wasn’t competitive or merit there. Same with Imola, Max built a dominant lead and Norris only starting catching up at the end (but not enough to even try to overtake) because Red Bull wanted to prioritise track position. The only race before Silverstone that McLaren was clearly the better car was in Spain. That then ignores that Max was largely unchallenged prior to that, while Norris had to compete with his teammate, Ferrari, and occasionally Max and the Mercedes. That makes a huge difference as well.
Put Max in the McLaren, and while he might’ve done a better job and even take it to the final race, he wouldn’t have won. Assuming someone like Norris, Charles, or Russell is in that Red Bull and not another Perez that is.
Doh
29th November 2024, 11:17
It’s an echo chamber / hive mind assumption that it was Miami. I believe it was Austria and Norris has outscored max since then too
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
29th November 2024, 0:02
Absolutely right he would’ve won in a mclaren, tbh I think it’s embarrassing that norris denies that when the numbers say mclaren was overall, at least marginally, the best car this season (we still have to see the performance in the last 2 races).
I also think it’s probably another matter in a ferrari, which is a car that was competitive a lot less often.
MacLeod (@macleod)
29th November 2024, 7:49
We don’t know the cars offcourse but with the McLaren he would do beter then Lando with the Ferrari it’s much harder to say as the wall has some influence with max can’t control.
Are we sure Max said this for real as this isn’t what Max normal would say or was this a maybe scenary question of the media?
Aquila_GD
28th November 2024, 20:21
To be fair to Verstappen and other drivers, I think he would have won in a Mclaren hands down but not too sure about the Ferrari. I think that would have been a bit difficult
Dusty
28th November 2024, 20:27
Leclerc is not too far behind Lando on the Standings. Would Leclerc beat both on the Red Bull? I have no idea what would happen…
Max in a Mercedes certainty wouldn’t be enough. Max in a Haas would have been a fum year…
SPArtacus
28th November 2024, 21:38
Max in a Sauber would be hilarious. It should be required just to remind our newer fans how, no matter how good the driver, you can’t achieve or show almost anything without decent equipment.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
29th November 2024, 0:08
Would’ve been awesome to see what a top driver could do in that car, a few points should’ve been possible.
SPArtacus
29th November 2024, 4:41
I’m sure he’d have around 10 points.
Dusty
28th November 2024, 20:23
We will never know, but I think Max and Lando swapping cars would result on a more dominant win for Max than what we’ve seen.
Max was too good minimizing his losses while Lando didn’t maximize his advantages.
Maybe he doesn’t need to say that in front of the media, but internally, it’s important for Lando to accept he didn’t do enough to be able to improve and win next time.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
29th November 2024, 0:10
Yes, I really think so too, mclaren edged out red bull across the year.
Armchair Expert (@armchairexpert)
28th November 2024, 20:30
Of course lesser drivers can’t admit they are indeed inferior to their rival, but thankfully we, fans, can freely discuss it:
-in 2017-18 Hamilton would have won 2 titles driving for Ferrari
-in 2012 Alonso would easily have won the title in Lotus and multiple races for Sauber and Williams
-in 2009 Button would have won the title in Red Bull
-in 2008 Alonso or Kubica would have absolutely dominated the season in Ferrari
-in 1997 Schumacher would have won almost all races in Williams and fought for the tile in Benetton, Jordan or Prost
So don’t feel like it’s a blasphemy when saying Max indeed would have won the title in 2021 Mercedes and this year’s McLaren or Ferrari, because that’s how it is. You may not like it, but Max is the best driver in F1 history.
If Norris or Leclerc want to prove they are equal to or even better than Max there’s a very easy way to show it – iRacing. You can even have them in the same room with the same equipment, so the only differentiator would be themselves and their talent. I can 100% guarantee you Max is still winning there.
Doh
29th November 2024, 11:21
You’re reaching hard. I watched 2017 and 18. Lewis was outstanding in comparison to vettel. But it’s a hard reach to say he would have won in the Ferrari for the very same reasons lando and Charles suggested. I’m surprised by how obsessed fans are with max that they seem to be leaving logic and reading and indéd facts behind too. Norris has outscored max since Austria which is when the McLaren in his hands was the better race car than the redbull. Moharity if F1 fans are sensationalism and hype merchants
DrG
29th November 2024, 16:59
Oh but but…
Do you not know?
Max is the best driver in history!
What utter tosh!
He has enjoyed one of the very best cars in history for many many races!
As for 2021 – Mercedes was fastest?
Oh please – even Adrian Newey agreed the had the better car.
Just because Hamilton put in four races under supreme pressure that made the above Max look completely out of control and unable to cope with someone able to deal with his unfair driving does not make for good optics but can we stop with the history rewriting every chance given?
We get it – your all terrified Hamilton gets in an equal car and the ‘best driver ever ever gets schooled again.
Edvaldo
28th November 2024, 20:35
That was completely unnecessary from Max.
Ferrari was faster than Red Bull in some 6 or 7 races out of 22.
He’s also not considering how good and tight Red Bull is as a team apart from the car, certainly better than McLaren and Ferrari.
Edvaldo
28th November 2024, 20:35
Red Bull was faster than Ferrari*
Edvaldo
28th November 2024, 20:36
Got it right the first time. I wish i could delete this reply!
pcxmac (@pcxmac)
28th November 2024, 20:42
you cant know. perez isnt competitive.
Edvaldo
28th November 2024, 20:59
I don’t take Perez into consideration for absolutely anything.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
29th November 2024, 0:12
Indeed, I always say that: when a 2nd driver is miles off the pace he doesn’t matter at all to determine car speed, just have to look at the best driver, which in some cases means the car left a lot of time on the table (haas this year for example, or aston when they had stroll and vettel).
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
28th November 2024, 21:35
I doubt he’d have made it in the Ferrari. But in that McLaren he’d have blitzed the field, no doubt about it.
Jojo
29th November 2024, 0:23
Yeah I think in the McLaren, it’s more clear that he could have won, as they left a lot of points on the table – Norris losing the lead from pole on 6 out of 7 times whereas Verstappen hasn’t lost any places at the start of a race all season.
In the Ferrari it would have been a lot tougher. Even if you add up the points of the top scorer from Ferrari for each race, the most they would have achieved is 370 points. So Verstappen would have to equal or better Leclerc and Sainz at each of the last 22 races to even get that many. Obviously it wouldn’t be a Verstappen in the Red Bull which might help a bit, but still.
Broderick Harper (@banbrorace)
29th November 2024, 11:40
Let’s face it. Once they’d smelt blood in the water Ferando or Lewis, would also both have won.
Charlie Payne
28th November 2024, 22:16
At least there is probably one thing we can all agree on… he wouldn’t have been able to do it in a Mercedes
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
29th November 2024, 0:14
Indeed, no mercedes, nor ferrari, yes to mclaren; leclerc drove better than norris relative to the car they had and he’s the only other driver this year that I think could’ve won the title in a red bull, if he had been in verstappen’s place, and would’ve been with a lot less margin.
Alonslow
29th November 2024, 1:51
Would it be Max on Ferrari and Leclerc to Red Bull? if that’s the case it would be very difficult but if it’s Carlos to Red Bull, then maybe a Ferrari championship isn’t that crazy.
Nikos (@exeviolthor)
29th November 2024, 6:24
He could have won, but it depends on who would be driving his Red Bull.
baasbas
29th November 2024, 8:36
So everyone above seem to have made up their mind. And not very surprising, you see the same names you always see either defending or attacking the claim…
Small detail: where is the actual quote from Verstappen? I mean, I saw a little bit of footage after Miami and my general perception was him getting more drunk with each interview. Was it a quote from Miami? Is this a ‘Lawson McLaren’-kind-of-quote too many people take seriously?
baasbas
29th November 2024, 8:38
Funny enough: Zak Brown doesn’t agree with Norris, he seems to agree with the missing quote, as per the other article :-)
Jojo
29th November 2024, 9:02
He was asked if he could have won the title in McLaren, Ferrari or Mercedes and has been quoted as saying:
I didn’t see the interview though, just picked these quotes up from other websites.
baasbas
29th November 2024, 9:22
@Jojo:
I think I found it, it’s likely Motorsport asked it and yes it was in the RBR hospitality hours after winning. So neither that claim nor the response to it by Norris and Leclerc are newsworthy . Just some lines on the internet, again, for people to form uninformed opinions on, they can then shout at each other..
But even if you do consider that RF.net is not a news source and journalistic ambitions are very low, it still seems like a blunder to not at least gather all the sources that make up your story.
Kev
29th November 2024, 9:06
Max is clearly on the wind-up!
Broderick Harper (@banbrorace)
29th November 2024, 11:17
I can’t see an argument where he’s wrong about the McLaren.
Lando arguably lost a 50 point swing due to either neglect on his or the teams part.
Remember, Max would be No1 and so Piastri would have had to have yielded / given him better support.
Note, I think both team-mates treated equally is better for F1 – but in the scenario Max has alluded to, the above would have been happening.
Broderick Harper (@banbrorace)
29th November 2024, 11:15
Max has gone OTT here, but he certainly could have won in the McLaren. Don’t think he could in the Ferrari.
It’s like Lewis in 2017/18. People forget that for two seasons, the Ferrari caught up to such a degree that I have no doubt that Lewis would have won those championships regardless of if he’s driven the Merc or the prancing horse.
Moshambles (@moshambles)
29th November 2024, 11:57
They’ve never driven each others cars so it’s impossible to tell how much each driver would get out of their rivals car. Just a bit of shoot talking. Drivers say this kind of thing all the time.
The Dolphins
29th November 2024, 14:40
1. It’s not really a question of which car Max is driving but who his teammate is. He has obvious number 1 status in the Red Bull but Sergio was nowhere near threatening that status. Charles and Lando on the other hand have two very competitive teammates who have taken points off them this season. Using Carlos as our yard stick, we have seen he is a close match to Max when they were teammates at TR, we have also seen how close he was with Lando at McLaren, and how close he is with Charles.
2. The arguably easier claim to make is that Charles or Lando would have won the championship in Max’s car. F1 is after all a team sport and Red Bull have a well oiled machine; the team is on point with design, pit stops, strategy, you name it. Ferrari and McLaren have shows flashes of dominance but if the question was which is the stronger team of the three my money would be on Red Bull.