Max Verstappen's Formula One rivals need no reminding that the only other Red Bull driver to become a double world champion went on to win four titles in a row.
Only time will answer the question of how many he can win, but Verstappen, barely 25, is just getting started with two as the sport enters a new era after the years of Mercedes domination.
The Dutch driver's victory in Japan brought back memories of another October 9 weekend at Suzuka in 2011 when a boyish Sebastian Vettel, then 24, took his second championship with the energy drink team.
“I saw this exact thing 11 years ago with Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull,” 2009 world champion Jenson Button, who won that race for McLaren, told Sky Sports television on Sunday afternoon.
“He went out and won the championship, actually at this grand prix and he was so dominant through the year and his teammate was there or thereabouts ... very similar to what Max has just done.”
Red Bull are set to take both crowns this year, ending a run of eight constructors' titles for Mercedes, and can expect to be the team to beat in 2023.
Vettel, like Verstappen last year, won his first title after a season-ending showdown in Abu Dhabi. In 2011 he racked up 11 wins to Button and McLaren teammate Lewis Hamilton's three each, and took the title with four races to spare.
Verstappen on Sunday took a 12th win in 18 races and wrapped up the title with four to spare.
Vettel, now with Aston Martin and making his last appearance at Suzuka on Sunday before retirement at the end of the season, was always the main man at Red Bull and Verstappen has that status now.
“He’s moulded that whole team around him, they totally think and believe he is the best ever,” commented Johnny Herbert, a teammate of Michael Schumacher's at Benetton in 1995.
“I remember Michael Schumacher, it’s exactly the same situation. And he’s only going to get stronger and stronger. That’s the scary bit for everybody else who’s going to be trying to beat him.”
Red Bull's chief engineering officer Rob Marshall suggested results could give a false impression.
“There’s times when they [Ferrari] have been quicker, so I don’t think it’s dominance at all,” he said as the team celebrated.
“I just think we’ve raced it better. It’s a good car, but I honestly don’t think it’s much better than theirs.”
Red Bull's 2023 car will have strong foundations and the team are working like a well-oiled machine, while Ferrari and Mercedes have problems to resolve.
The team's technical ace Adrian Newey said it had “turned out into one of those dream seasons”, and singled out Verstappen's win from 10th on the grid in Hungary as a highlight.
He said he had been amazed by Verstappen's car control and impressed by his maturity.
“Part of it is the relief of getting his first championship under his belt so he doesn’t feel he has to prove himself in perhaps the way he did last year,” he said.
“This year, where he hasn’t been at the front he’s shown real patience and got it there. Deep respect to him for making that big progress. Maybe two years ago he perhaps wouldn’t have done that.”
Verstappen's second title carries a blast from the past
Image: Peter Fox/Getty Images
Max Verstappen's Formula One rivals need no reminding that the only other Red Bull driver to become a double world champion went on to win four titles in a row.
Only time will answer the question of how many he can win, but Verstappen, barely 25, is just getting started with two as the sport enters a new era after the years of Mercedes domination.
The Dutch driver's victory in Japan brought back memories of another October 9 weekend at Suzuka in 2011 when a boyish Sebastian Vettel, then 24, took his second championship with the energy drink team.
“I saw this exact thing 11 years ago with Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull,” 2009 world champion Jenson Button, who won that race for McLaren, told Sky Sports television on Sunday afternoon.
“He went out and won the championship, actually at this grand prix and he was so dominant through the year and his teammate was there or thereabouts ... very similar to what Max has just done.”
Red Bull are set to take both crowns this year, ending a run of eight constructors' titles for Mercedes, and can expect to be the team to beat in 2023.
Vettel, like Verstappen last year, won his first title after a season-ending showdown in Abu Dhabi. In 2011 he racked up 11 wins to Button and McLaren teammate Lewis Hamilton's three each, and took the title with four races to spare.
Verstappen on Sunday took a 12th win in 18 races and wrapped up the title with four to spare.
Vettel, now with Aston Martin and making his last appearance at Suzuka on Sunday before retirement at the end of the season, was always the main man at Red Bull and Verstappen has that status now.
“He’s moulded that whole team around him, they totally think and believe he is the best ever,” commented Johnny Herbert, a teammate of Michael Schumacher's at Benetton in 1995.
“I remember Michael Schumacher, it’s exactly the same situation. And he’s only going to get stronger and stronger. That’s the scary bit for everybody else who’s going to be trying to beat him.”
Red Bull's chief engineering officer Rob Marshall suggested results could give a false impression.
“There’s times when they [Ferrari] have been quicker, so I don’t think it’s dominance at all,” he said as the team celebrated.
“I just think we’ve raced it better. It’s a good car, but I honestly don’t think it’s much better than theirs.”
Red Bull's 2023 car will have strong foundations and the team are working like a well-oiled machine, while Ferrari and Mercedes have problems to resolve.
The team's technical ace Adrian Newey said it had “turned out into one of those dream seasons”, and singled out Verstappen's win from 10th on the grid in Hungary as a highlight.
He said he had been amazed by Verstappen's car control and impressed by his maturity.
“Part of it is the relief of getting his first championship under his belt so he doesn’t feel he has to prove himself in perhaps the way he did last year,” he said.
“This year, where he hasn’t been at the front he’s shown real patience and got it there. Deep respect to him for making that big progress. Maybe two years ago he perhaps wouldn’t have done that.”
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More milestones beckon for double F1 world champion Verstappen
Gasly thankful to be alive after Japanese GP scare
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