Never Stop Driving #121: Is Verstappen the Best?

Last weekend, Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen proved he’s one of the greatest drivers of his generation and potentially one of the greatest drivers of all time. During a rain-soaked Brazilian Grand Prix at the Interlagos circuit in São Paulo, Verstappen stormed from a seventeenth-place starting position to a dominating win. Ten of his final 11 laps were good enough to be fastest lap of the race. Let that soak in.   

Verstappen is a three-time world champion and will likely win a fourth championship this year, so seeing him on top of the podium is not unusual. His win in Brazil, however, was different. Verstappen’s Red Bull F1 car is no longer the class of the field like it was earlier in the season—his last win was back in June, nine races ago—and the McLarens look to have the edge, followed by Ferrari.  

In racing circles, it’s often said that when it rains, the car matters less, and the driver matters more. Traction on a wet track is wildly unpredictable corner to corner, lap to lap. A braking point of, say, 50 meters before the turn that worked on Lap 7 might still be fine on Lap 13 but then way too late, or way too early, on Lap 14. Rain-tire grooves, which evacuate water from between the road and the rubber, also wear, adding another element of uncertainty. Without the predictability of a dry track, the drivers rely on feel, instinct, and lightning-fast reflexes to get their unruly, 1000-hp beasts through each unnerving lap without hydroplaning into a barrier.

At the Brazil race, Verstappen made passes no other driver attempted. He passed a handful of cars in the first lap. Cars, it must be said, that were driven by some of the best drivers in the world. The conditions were so tricky that nearly every driver, including Fernando Alonso, Lando Norris, and Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez, slid off track. Norris went off twice. During this chaos, Verstappen certainly benefited from timely caution periods, but his aggression and lack of mistakes in appalling conditions were mind-blowing. I texted “Max=GOAT” to a friend after the race and I certainly wasn’t the only one so impressed. Even the New York Times noticed: “In Brazil, Max Verstappen produced his greatest F1 win—and closed in on another title.” Check out this Verstappen highlight reel to see for yourself.  

This week, coincidentally, I corresponded with the one-in-a-million Sam Posey, the former racing driver and TV commentator who not only knows how to wheel a car but also how to write beautifully, and not least, is a talented artist. Everyone who loves cars needs to read Where the Writer Meets the Road, a compilation of his best essays and articles. When asked if he shared my enthusiasm for Verstappen, Posey said that we could make the GOAT case for at least half a dozen drivers—Fangio, Senna, Stewart, etc. “I think there’s a tendency,” he explained, “to exaggerate the exploits of a driver who is current—because we can feel with greatness unfiltered by time.” Great line, right? Feel with greatness unfiltered by time. Holy smokes!

While we’re on F1, let’s talk about Aston Martin. The storied British carmaker best known for its affiliation with James Bond has forged a fresh identity as a Formula 1 team and sports car manufacturer since Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll became a major investor a few years ago. Stroll has invested heavily to upgrade facilities and personnel, including hiring world champ Fernando Alonso to drive alongside his son Lance. Stroll’s commitment to the legendary brand is impressive, and it appears he’s trying to follow the Ferrari model by using the halo of F1 to sell high-priced street cars. The F1 team is currently fifth in the constructors championship, an impressive feat for such a young team. The new-car business, however, is struggling, burning through more than $1 million every day. Maybe the new Vanquish model will help. We just posted a gorgeous film about the luxurious V-12 GT on our YouTube page.  

Meanwhile, NASCAR this past weekend was motorsports as professional wrestling. The race was a knockout round with only a few drivers eligible for the final playoff spot. Toyota driver Christopher Bell tried to ride the wall like Ross Chastain did two years ago, but the move has since been banned so he was penalized. That elevated Chevy driver William Byron to the final playoff spot. Radio calls between drivers and crews, however, revealed that many drivers weren’t racing to win, but rather to help another driver advance to the playoffs. Naughty! NASCAR handed out hundreds of thousands in fines and several suspensions. Byron, who benefited from team orders, was allowed to keep his position, which led many pundits to accuse NASCAR of looking the other way to make sure a Chevy is in the final four. Bell posted a photo of himself and team owner Joe Gibbs with the caption “Just a couple of guys missing a bow tie.” The NASCAR championship will be decided this Sunday in Phoenix, and I’ll be glued to the screen.

Before I sign off, some other stuff that’s on my mind: 

• I’ve longed for one of the old rear-drive Toyota Corollas, known as the AE86. Larry Chen found a vibrant AE86 scene in Malaysia. 

• Ever wonder what it’s like to drive in a demolition derby? Kyle Smith reports. 

• Take my money: Toyota’s rally-inspired concept car.  

• I don’t want to touch politics, but I can’t help myself: Tesla stock is up 15% while other EV companies are significantly down. That is curious, lol.  

• Meanwhile, EV sales continue to grow, but at a slower pace.  

Have a great weekend! 

Larry

P.S.: Your feedback and comments are welcome.   

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