By Joe Murphy
F1 fans across the world appear disillusioned. Those who were here before Drive to Survive will know that an ‘Era of Domination’ in the sport, is nothing new.
Apart from Kimi Raikkonen and Nico Rosberg, the last 23 years have seen several different legacies formed, and this right now is Max Verstappen’s. That is until George Russell, Lando Norris or Charles Leclerc knock him off his perch and start their run.
2000 saw the five year domination of Michael Schumacher. Then it was Fernando Alonso’s turn for a couple. Apart from the aforementioned Rosberg win in 2016, from 2010 to 2022 (and probably 2023), there have only been 3 different world champions. Taking the Former Mercedes driver out of the equation and you have a sequence that reads Vettel, Vettel, Vettel, Vettel, Hamilton, Hamilton, Hamilton, Hamilton, Hamilton, Hamilton, Verstappen, Verstappen. And you don’t expect the Dutchman to scoop a few more? Please. Before even 2000 you had Mika. Before him Senna and prior to the Brazilian there was the streaks of Prost, Piquet, Stewart and Fangio in reverse order, to name but a few.
Drivers have their time. Not all get to the top but that select few, often with the right car at the right time, have their run at the top. That is why it’s no surprise that Max won last year so comfortably, and will probably do so for the next two to three years. With all cars being different, how can you expect a different result.
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