Between early 2022 and mid-2024, Max Verstappen produced one of the most dominant performances in the history of Formula 1. During this time, the Red Bull driver won an impressive 41 out of 54 races, achieving a win rate of 75.9%.

These results led to four consecutive world championships and firmly established Verstappen as one of the sport’s all-time greats. Yet for all his success, universal admiration never followed.

 

 

Dominance breeds contempt

At several circuits around the world, he was booed, sometimes loudly and in large numbers. This reaction seemed paradoxical when viewed against the statistics. Only five drivers in Formula 1 history have won four consecutive world titles. Even Michael Schumacher, the benchmark with five consecutive championships between 2000 and 2004, did not match Verstappen’s winning percentage during his most dominant years.

However, Formula 1 is not usually a sport where success alone guarantees popularity. Dominance often breeds resistance, especially in a championship built on tension, rivalry and uncertainty. Verstappen came to symbolise an era that many fans found predictable: Red Bull was almost untouchable, races were frequently decided early on, and the driver operated on the edge of the regulations while rarely being penalised. For some, this made him the perfect antagonist.

However, that image began to change in the second half of 2024. McLaren emerged as the new benchmark, a trend that became even clearer in 2025. For the first time in years, Verstappen found himself consistently playing catch-up rather than controlling the field. At one point mid-season, he trailed the championship leader by 104 points, an unthinkable margin during Red Bull’s peak dominance.

Further, Red Bull Racing made a strategic choice. While several rivals shifted their attention early to the major regulation changes coming in 2026, Red Bull continued to develop its 2025 car. This decision slowly but surely paid off, enabling Verstappen to close the gap race by race.

 

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Applause replaced boos

Although he never took the championship lead, Verstappen’s late-season surge brought him back into genuine title contention. By the end of the year, he finished just two points short of the title, which ultimately went to Lando Norris. While it was not a fifth title, it was a performance that demanded respect.

The reaction from the stands reflected that shift. At circuits where boos had once dominated, applause could now be heard. Few examples were as striking as the change in Italy. Ferrari fans, who had long seen Verstappen as the man who spoiled their celebrations, chanted his name at both the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix and the Italian Grand Prix. For years, he had been seen as the villain who ‘stole’ victories from their heroes. Suddenly, the tone softened.

 

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Context changes everything

Crucially, however, this change had little to do with Verstappen altering his approach on the track. He remained aggressive, uncompromising and relentlessly sharp. The difference lay almost entirely in context. Without overwhelming dominance, those same traits were no longer seen as arrogance or inevitability, but as determination and fighting spirit.

In relative terms, Verstappen had become the underdog again. He was no longer the driver everyone expected to win every weekend, but rather the driver challenging the momentum of a faster rival. This reshaped how fans perceived his performances and, in turn, how they responded to him.

 

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Verstappen: “Nothing fundamental has changed”

Speaking on the podcast The Fast and the Curious, Verstappen addressed the changing reactions calmly and without bitterness. He made it clear that, from his perspective, nothing fundamental had changed.

“Honestly, I haven’t changed as a person,” he explained. “You’re just in a different role because you’re not winning as many races as you used to. The most important thing is that I’ve stayed true to myself.”

He acknowledged that sympathy often follows naturally when results are less dominant. Although he had noticed the shift in the grandstands, he did not place much importance on it. He admitted that applause feels good, but it does not influence how he races.

“Yes, you feel that,” said Verstappen. ‘When you’re more of an underdog, it happens naturally. Of course, it’s nice when people cheer instead of whistling.”

 

Why Lando Norris was booed

While Verstappen benefited from this change in perception, the opposite dynamic began to surround Lando Norris. Despite securing the 2025 World Championship, Norris was booed at several events, notably after victories in Mexico and São Paulo. For a driver who had long been considered one of the paddock’s most popular figures, this reaction seemed surprising.

Much of the frustration was not aimed solely at Norris, but at McLaren as a team. Controversial team orders during his title fight with Oscar Piastri, particularly at the Italian Grand Prix, left many fans feeling that the championship had been influenced unfairly. In Formula 1, any suggestion that a title is ‘managed’ rather than fought for is rarely well received in the court of public opinion.

 

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Verstappen, now the hunter

The contrast between the two drivers was striking. Although Verstappen won more races than Norris over the season, eight compared to seven, he was seen as the hunter rather than the hunted. As the man with the fastest car and the title advantage, Norris bore the pressure and criticism that come with being the favourite.

Together, their situations illustrate how quickly public opinion can shift in Formula 1. Popularity is fragile and highly dependent on circumstances. Dominance invites scepticism, while struggle invites empathy.

Verstappen, perhaps unintentionally, benefited from this emotional shift. His performances were exceptional as always, but were perceived differently, no longer as routine superiority, but as an intense, improbable comeback attempt. This narrative earned him something that had often been missing during his years of dominance: widespread applause.

Ultimately, this underlines the message Verstappen delivered to the fans. He did not reinvent himself, soften his edge or alter his mindset. The driver stayed the same. Only the role he occupied, and how it was perceived, had changed.

 

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NEXT ARTICLE – Bianchi family announces news

“It is a great relief” say the Bianchi family as Jules Bianchi’s go-kart recovered after theft – There is welcome news from the family of the late Formula 1 driver, Jules Bianchi. Several go-karts were stolen from the family’s private collection earlier this year, but at least one of the missing machines has now been recovered. The news was confirmed by Jules’ father, Philippe Bianchi, who shared the update on social media.

“I am delighted to announce that Jules’ go-kart has been found. It is a huge relief for our entire family,” he wrote in a Facebook post.

He also expressed his gratitude to those who helped bring about the breakthrough, thanking supporters who shared information, media outlets that reported on the theft and the local police in Brignoles for their assistance.

The recovered kart is particularly important as it was the last one used by Jules Bianchi before he progressed further in his racing career. Its return represents more than the recovery of valuable equipment — it marks the return of a deeply personal piece of family history…READ MORE ON THIS STORY