This season, Verstappen’s Red Bull car appears to be encountering unprecedented challenges, losing its absolute dominance from past seasons. With McLaren’s strong resurgence, whether Verstappen can achieve the remarkable feat of becoming a five-time champion now seems uncertain.
Currently trailing behind McLaren in both driver and constructor standings, four-time champion Max Verstappen continues to showcase remarkable performances despite not having this season’s most competitive car. In six completed races so far, he clinched victory at the Japanese Grand Prix and secured pole positions in Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Miami thanks to his exceptional skills.
The challenge posed by other drivers remains significant against Verstappen. Outpacing this four-time champion on track has become a key measure of any driver’s skill level—especially when he starts from pole position. Defeating him under these circumstances is no easy feat; however there are two drivers who have managed to win at least two races even when starting behind a pole-positioned Verstappen: McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton.
Max Verstappen has demonstrated exceptional pace in recent qualifying sessions, securing consecutive pole positions at this season’s races in Saudi Arabia and Miami. While these performances highlighted his raw speed over a single lap, the subsequent main races presented different challenges. In Saudi Arabia, despite starting from the front, the race unfolded in a way that saw another competitor ultimately take the victory. Similarly, at the Miami Grand Prix, Verstappen again started from pole, but a combination of strategic factors and race pace meant he was unable to convert that advantage into a win, with Lando Norris delivering a formidable challenge and securing the triumph. These instances serve as reminders that pole position, while crucial, is not always a guarantee of victory, and race day dynamics can significantly alter the outcome.
Looking back at previous seasons, there have been notable occasions where, after topping qualifying, Max Verstappen has been challenged and ultimately overtaken for the win. Besides the recent events, Lewis Hamilton is another driver who has managed to reverse fortunes against a pole-sitting Verstappen on multiple occasions.
One such instance occurred at the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2019. Verstappen had achieved a significant milestone by securing his first career pole position. However, the race proved to be a stern test. Lewis Hamilton mounted a relentless chase, employing strategic prowess and consistent pace. The pressure intensified in the latter stages of the race, leading to a captivating battle. Ultimately, Hamilton executed a well-timed overtake, leaving the Dutchman to finish second despite starting from the very front of the grid, a poignant moment reflecting the competitive intensity between the two.
The opening race of the 2021 season in Bahrain also saw a gripping contest where Verstappen started from pole. The race developed into a strategic battle, with both drivers pursuing different approaches to pit stops. Hamilton opted for a two-stop strategy which brought him back into contention in the final laps. This set the stage for an intense duel, with overtakes and counter-overtakes. In the closing moments, Verstappen briefly regained the lead, but this move was deemed to have gone outside the track limits, forcing him to concede the position. Despite the setback and facing potential mechanical limitations towards the very end, Verstappen pushed hard, finishing just 0.745 seconds behind the victorious Hamilton and setting the fastest lap of the race in a demonstration of his unwavering speed throughout the hour-long contest.
Later in the 2021 season, at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, Verstappen once again secured pole position during the Sprint Qualifying session, setting him up favorably for the main race. However, the start of the race was dramatic. An aggressive opening lap saw contact between Verstappen and Hamilton. The incident resulted in a red flag stoppage and Verstappen retiring from the race, while Hamilton incurred a penalty. Despite the time penalty, Hamilton demonstrated incredible resilience and pace during the restart. He mounted a sensational recovery drive through the field, battling hard to make up positions. In a dramatic finish, he managed to overtake Charles Leclerc for the lead in the closing laps, securing a memorable victory in front of the home crowd, highlighting his ability to overcome adversity even when starting behind Verstappen.