# Max Verstappen — 2018 season

Source: https://www.thef1formula.com/seasons/max-verstappen-2018
Last updated: 2026-07-01

> Max Verstappen's 2018 Formula 1 season was a narrative of early-season incidents giving way to a strong, consistent second half, culminating in his highest championship finish to date.

Max Verstappen's 2018 Formula 1 season was a narrative of early-season incidents giving way to a strong, consistent second half, culminating in his highest championship finish to date, P4 in the Drivers' Championship.

## Going in

Heading into 2018, Max Verstappen was in his third full season with Red Bull Racing, a team consistently vying for podiums but often outmatched by the dominant Mercedes and Ferrari outfits in the V6 turbo-hybrid era. The expectation for Verstappen was to build on his raw speed and occasional brilliance, aiming for greater consistency and fewer incidents. The Red Bull RB14, powered by Renault, showed flashes of pace, particularly on circuits less reliant on outright engine power, setting the stage for a challenging but potentially rewarding year for the young Dutchman.

## How it played out

The initial phase of Verstappen's 2018 campaign was marked by a series of high-profile incidents and missed opportunities. The season began with a P6 finish in Australia, followed by a DNF in Bahrain due to a transmission issue after starting P15. In China, contact with Sebastian Vettel dropped him to P5. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix saw a collision with teammate Daniel Ricciardo, resulting in a double DNF, a significant setback for Red Bull. A qualifying crash in Monaco meant starting P20, though he recovered to P9. This early period, encompassing the first six races, yielded only 33 points and one podium, a P3 in Spain.

The turning point arrived mid-season. From the Spanish Grand Prix onwards, Verstappen found a rhythm, demonstrating improved judgment and consistent pace. He secured consecutive P3 finishes in Spain and Canada, followed by a P2 in France. The highlight of this resurgence was his victory at the Austrian Grand Prix, Red Bull's home race, where he capitalized on Mercedes' misfortune and managed his tires expertly. This marked his first win of the season and a significant shift in momentum. Even a DNF in Hungary due to power loss did not derail his progress, as he immediately returned with a P3 in Belgium.

## Defining moments

The collision with Daniel Ricciardo at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix stands as a critical early-season moment, prompting discussions about driver discipline within the team. Conversely, his victory at the [Austrian Grand Prix](https://www.formula1.com/en/racing/2018/Austria.html) was a definitive peak, showcasing his ability to seize opportunities and manage a race from the front. The latter half of the season saw Verstappen consistently challenging for podiums, securing a P2 in Singapore and another P3 in Japan. His second win came at the Mexican Grand Prix, a dominant performance from P2 on the grid. This consistent form, particularly after the early struggles, underscored his development. For context, other drivers like [Nico Hülkenberg — 2017 season](/seasons/nico-hulkenberg-2017) also faced challenges with car reliability and team dynamics during this era, highlighting the common hurdles drivers navigated.

## What it meant

Max Verstappen finished the 2018 season in 4th place in the Drivers' Championship with 249 points, securing 2 wins and 11 podiums across 21 races. This represented a substantial improvement in his championship standing and points tally compared to previous years. The season served as a crucial period of maturation, where Verstappen demonstrated his capacity to learn from mistakes and convert raw speed into consistent results. While Red Bull was not yet in a position to challenge for the Constructors' Championship against the might of Mercedes and Ferrari, Verstappen's individual performance, especially in the second half, solidified his reputation as a top-tier driver. This trajectory laid foundational experience for future championship bids, a path that drivers like [Isack Hadjar — 2025 season](/seasons/isack-hadjar-2025) will also navigate in their careers. The season's data, as tracked by sources like [Jolpica/Ergast](https://api.jolpi.ca/ergast/f1/2026.json), illustrates a clear progression. His ability to recover from early setbacks and deliver consistent points finishes, often maximizing the potential of the Red Bull package, was a key takeaway. The 2018 season was a testament to his evolving race craft within the competitive landscape of [Formula One](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formula_One).

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