Raymond Vermeulen has delivered a powerful endorsement of Max Verstappen‘s 2024 Formula 1 season, describing the four-time world champion’s performance as nothing short of a masterpiece despite the intense pressure from McLaren throughout the campaign. The manager’s assessment highlights how Verstappen’s ability to extract maximum performance from a car that lost its competitive edge during the season has finally earned him universal recognition across the motorsport world. Speaking to Dutch media, Vermeulen emphasised that while many had recognised Verstappen’s exceptional talent for years, his 2024 title defence showcased qualities that transcended raw speed.
Recognition beyond the Red Bull bubble
Vermeulen’s comments reflect a broader shift in how the paddock views Verstappen’s capabilities. The manager noted that for years, he and those close to the Dutchman recognised his exceptional talent with four wheels around him, but the circumstances of 2024 forced even sceptics to acknowledge what was on display. The season demanded adaptation, racecraft, and strategic thinking that went far beyond the dominant performances of 2023. Where the previous campaign saw Verstappen claim 19 victories from 22 races with machinery that was often untouchable, 2024 required a fundamentally different approach as Red Bull struggled to maintain their development trajectory.
The international recognition Vermeulen references stems from Verstappen’s ability to maximise every opportunity when the RB20 simply wasn’t the fastest car on several occasions. His defensive masterclass in races where McLaren held the pace advantage demonstrated maturity and racecraft that statistics alone cannot capture.
Comparing contrasting championships
The distinction between Verstappen’s third and fourth titles could hardly be more pronounced. Vermeulen drew a direct comparison between the 2023 domination and 2024’s tightrope walk, calling the latter campaign a work of art from the Dutch driver. The manager’s assessment centred on how far Verstappen had to come back from difficult weekends that punctuated the early season. Red Bull Racing‘s struggles with correlation issues and setup direction cost valuable points during a period when McLaren rapidly closed the performance gap.
Vermeulen pointed to specific weekends where the team collectively underperformed, suggesting these difficult moments ultimately compromised their position heading into the season finale. The mathematics of those dropped points made the championship fight closer than Red Bull would have anticipated when the season began. Yet within this context, Vermeulen observed that McLaren made significantly more errors despite fielding what became the grid’s fastest car by mid-season, suggesting Norris should have capitalised far earlier given his machinery advantage.
McLaren’s missed opportunity
The manager’s critique of McLaren’s campaign highlights an often-overlooked aspect of Verstappen’s fourth title. While much attention focused on Red Bull’s mid-season struggles with balance and aerodynamic platform, McLaren’s operational errors and strategic missteps allowed Verstappen to maintain an advantage he arguably shouldn’t have held given pure car performance. Vermeulen’s assertion that Norris should have already won the championship with the MCL38 underscores how driver execution and team operations remain decisive factors even when holding a technical advantage.
This assessment aligns with observations from throughout the season, where McLaren’s occasional strategic confusion and driver errors in qualifying or race situations handed Verstappen points that might otherwise have swung toward the Woking team. The implication remains clear: Verstappen extracted every available point from a package that wasn’t consistently competitive, while his closest challenger couldn’t convert superior machinery into championship success.
What defines a championship masterpiece
Vermeulen’s characterisation of 2024 as a masterpiece rather than simply another title speaks to the nuanced nature of Formula 1 excellence. Dominant seasons like 2023 showcase one dimension of greatness—the ability to convert superior machinery into relentless victory. But 2024 demanded different skills: damage limitation when the car struggled, ruthless capitalisation of opponent mistakes, and the psychological resilience to maintain championship focus when the competitive advantage had evaporated. The season tested Verstappen’s complete skillset in ways that comfortable domination never could.
The manager’s pride stems from watching his driver navigate this complexity while maintaining composure under scrutiny that intensified as McLaren’s challenge materialised. International recognition, Vermeulen suggests, now reflects an understanding that Verstappen’s talent extends beyond driving the fastest car quickly—it encompasses the complete package required of a multiple world champion operating at the sport’s highest level.
