Having been pretty much unstoppable since the early phase of the season, it is hard to argue against Verstappen delivering an intensity of form like never before.
Even Red Bull team boss Christian Horner says there have been times when the squad has been surprised at what Verstappen has done in the car.
“Some of the races he's driven this year have been so great that it's exceeded all our expectations,” said Horner, after seeing Verstappen clinch his latest crown in Qatar.
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“I think Max as a driver has just continued to evolve, and he's continued to grow. The level that he's now operating and the way he's able to read races, the way he is able to manage tyres, the mental strength that he has in the high-pressure moments, is absolutely outstanding.”
But there is one man who doesn’t buy the theory that this year’s title success is down to a new Verstappen - and he is someone who perhaps knows the Dutchman better than anyone else.
His father Jos Verstappen thinks the true story of the 2023 title charge is not about a driver who has lifted his game; it is more about him having underneath him a car that allows him to better show off talent that has been there for years.
Asked by Autosport if he agreed with views that his son was a different driver this year, Jos Verstappen said: “Not for me. I think it's the same Max as three, four years ago.
“Only the difference now is that he has a fantastic car around him, and he knows the people who he works with.
Source: Autosport