Max Verstappen’s journey to his fourth Formula 1 title was full of drama and determination, but the moment he truly realized he had secured the championship came much earlier than expected—before the Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend even began. Following his sensational win in Sao Paulo, Verstappen declared that, barring any “dramatic” circumstances, he had already clinched the title. This candid admission, shared by F1 presenter Lawrence Barretto, has given fans an inside look into Verstappen’s mindset after a season of dominance.

In a revealing conversation on the F1 Nation podcast, Barretto discussed the moment Verstappen crossed the line in Brazil and realized the title was all but in his grasp. “It was in Brazil after that epic drive from 17th to first,” Barretto recalled. “Max said, ‘That was the moment. I’ve done it, unless something dramatic happens.’ I’ve never seen Max talk so openly about something like that before.”

Verstappen, known for his relentless pursuit of victory, usually shows visible frustration when he doesn’t win. However, his attitude after the Las Vegas Grand Prix was notably different. With the championship secured, Verstappen only needed to finish ahead of his closest rival, Lando Norris, and he did just that, taking fifth place and sealing the title in a relaxed, yet jubilant, atmosphere.

Despite a slower second half of the 2024 season, Verstappen’s consistency early in the campaign was crucial to his title win. He dominated the first 10 races, winning seven of them, before his momentum slowed with just one win in the following 12 races. This pattern exemplified just how challenging his fourth title was to secure, underscoring his resilience as he added his name to the list of all-time greats.

At just 27 years old, Verstappen’s achievement of four championships places him among the sport’s elite. He is now one of only six drivers in F1 history to have won four or more titles, joining the ranks of Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Juan Manuel Fangio, Alain Prost, and Sebastian Vettel. Verstappen is also rapidly climbing the list of most race wins, with 62 victories to his name—just 29 behind Schumacher and 14 behind Hamilton. Given his exceptional form, many believe Verstappen is on track to surpass both records in the near future.

While Verstappen’s impressive list of accomplishments could fuel a desire to chase even more records, the champion has consistently downplayed their significance. He has emphasized that records are not his focus and hinted that he might retire when his Red Bull contract ends in 2028. For now, the four-time world champion has made it clear: his priority is enjoying his success, rather than chasing numbers.

Verstappen’s rise to the top is nothing short of extraordinary, and his place in F1 history is all but secured—whether he continues to chase records or walks away at the peak of his career. The question now is not if he will break the records, but when.