Max Verstappen made it clear throughout the season that he aimed to clinch the Formula One world title with a dominant car, just as he had done in the previous two years. Although he might have preferred a more straightforward path, the battle for his fourth championship, which he secured in Las Vegas, was not only a thrilling contest but also demonstrated his evolution into a truly complete driver. Beating him in the future will be an arduous challenge, as his rival Lando Norris acknowledged.

At the beginning of the season, Verstappen seemed to have everything under control. With Red Bull's impressive start, he dominated the tracks. His confidence and speed at the opening round in Bahrain were intimidating, with a lap advantage of up to a second at times. He casually asked his engineer Gianpiero Lambiase if he needed to push harder. He appeared unfazed by the controversy surrounding team principal Christian Horner, who was accused of inappropriate behavior by a female employee. The complaint was later dismissed by an independent investigation, but it still caused some instability.

Bahrain served as a prelude to a series of victories, with wins in four of the first five races, the only hiccup being a DNF in Australia due to a brake issue. However, the season took a turn at round six in Miami where McLaren introduced significant upgrades. These changes were revolutionary, providing a car capable of challenging Red Bull. It was here that Verstappen first noticed issues with his drive, noting a lack of grip. Adding to the turmoil, long-time design genius Adrian Newey announced his departure from Red Bull after nearly two decades. Norris seized his first win and started his comeback.

Verstappen refused to be counted out and delivered a series of strong performances, winning three of the next four races, the last being in Spain in June. After that, things really started to unravel. With McLaren now so fast, Red Bull was struggling to keep up. The upgrades introduced in Miami left the car unbalanced, and attempts to adjust the setup only worsened tire degradation and grip issues. The oversteer that Verstappen favored was gone, making his job even more difficult.

Despite these challenges, Verstappen's determination shone through. He secured a series of strong results, though without any wins over a five-month period. His hard-fought results prevented Norris from closing the gap too quickly. Some of his driving was controversial, sometimes ruthless and overly aggressive, which did not reflect well on the world champion.

Crucially, Verstappen managed to perform well in a car he had described as an "undriveable monster" after finishing sixth in Monza, where Red Bull was outpaced by both McLaren and Ferrari. He was aided by McLaren's delayed focus on Norris's title bid and several errors made by the British driver. But fundamentally, it was Verstappen's ability to drive a difficult car that made the difference. His teammate Sergio Pérez struggled to score points in the same car, which he described as handling "like a boat".

It was a period where Verstappen's sheer willpower carried him through. "I always demand a lot from myself," he said. "I hate making mistakes. I put that pressure on myself every weekend. If you want to win a championship, you cannot afford bad results."

After five months without a win, Verstappen sealed his victory with a stunning performance in Brazil. His win in the wet, starting from 17th on the grid, was a masterclass. Norris, starting from pole, was expected to make significant gains, but Verstappen's exceptional performance in treacherous conditions saw him overtake Norris and secure a 20-second lead by the end of the race.

"It was a defining moment for the championship," Norris said, but it also highlighted the level Verstappen has been operating at this season. "If you want to beat Max, you have to be close to perfect," Norris added. "He is one of the best the sport will ever see." Given his performance in securing this title, this assessment was undoubtedly accurate.

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