This week: With his victory in Sepang this weekend, Max Verstappen has equalled Michael Schumacher’s record for wins at a single team – 72.
He’s been in the GOAT debate online for a while…but does this achievement mean we should start taking that seriously?
FOR:
The argument around whether Max Verstappen should be considered in the running for Formula 1’s Greatest of All Time has been fraught for years, and has always revolved to an extent around Lewis Hamilton. This is no doubt because of their infamous 2021 championship battle, which went down to the wire in Abu Dhabi, where Verstappen (controversially) came out on top.
However, Verstappen’s equalling Schumacher’s record for 72 wins at a single team may lend him the legitimacy he needs to truly position himself as a contender in the GOAT debate outside of niche subreddits. Michael Schumacher, with seven World Championships under his belt – five of those achieved consecutively between 2000 and 2004 – is exactly the kind of peer Verstappen deserves.
Not only are Verstappen’s statistics impressive, but his evolution from upstart, angry ‘Mad Max’ to the driver known for channelling his aggression into incredible performances today is remarkable. In his rookie season, he was quick to prove that he deserved Daniil Kyvat’s seat at Red Bull, becoming the youngest race winner at the time when he held off Ferrari’s Raikkonen for P1 at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix.
The statistics have only continued to speak for themselves; with four World Championships, six Grand Slams, and 49 pole positions alongside his 72 career wins, Verstappen cemented his legacy of greatness even before equalling Schumacher. Just last season, despite a dominant run from McLaren’s Norris and Piastri, it wasn’t until the last lap of Abu Dhabi 2025 that Verstappen’s ability to steal the championship away came into doubt.
In a sport as technical as F1, where so much of performance relies on the car underneath the driver, Verstappen’s continued technical brilliance and unwillingness to be backed into the corner are both traits needed if one is to be considered the GOAT.
AGAINST:
Though 72 wins is indeed an impressive number, should the stats alone act as a metric for how “great” we deem a Formula One driver? A number of factors contribute to winning grands prix such as strategy and the competitiveness of the car, and though it can’t be denied that Verstappen is a great driver, he’s also been lucky enough to have a brilliant team and car behind him.
A half-decent driver can win races if they have the fastest car; it takes a highly-skilled driver to be able to take a midfield car to the podium. This is one thing Verstappen can’t boast having under his belt; since the start, he has always had a car capable of competing at the front of the field. Some have never had the chance to race with high-performing F1 cars: would Robert Kubica have had a better shot at the championship in 2008 if he had driven a McLaren instead of a Sauber? Juan Pablo Montoya in 2003? Stirling Moss from 1955 to ‘61?
The driver that took a seat in F1 at 17 years old was impatient and aggressive in his driving style, and these qualities have not faded with time. Nearly all the drivers on the grid have complained about Verstappen’s ‘dangerous driving’ style and he’s infamous for finding himself in feuds with other drivers, such as George Russell. If a driver can only overtake others on track by forcing them into difficult positions where everyone’s safety is at risk, then their driving is not what’s getting them ahead. He flouts the rules and shirks responsibility, and will continue to do so as long as the FIA continues to favour him and award minimal penalties for his behaviour.
Though Verstappen is undeniably impressive, his driving skills can’t compare to the likes of the all-time greats like Lewis Hamilton or Michael Schumacher with seven drivers’ championships each.
Illustration for The Student by Conon Walsh.
