Max Verstappen — 2019 season

Max Verstappen's 2019 Formula 1 season marked a significant step forward in his career trajectory, establishing him as a consistent front-runner and the primary challenger to Mercedes in an era still largely defined by their dominance. This was a year where Verstappen, driving for Red Bull Racing, solidified his position as a championship contender, even if the ultimate title remained out of reach.

Going in

TheThe 2019 season represented a new chapter for Red Bull Racing, as they embarked on their partnership with Honda as their power unit supplier. After years with Renault, the switch brought a sense of renewed optimism, though the established dominance of Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team and the resurgence of Ferrari meant the competition at the front was formidable. Verstappen, entering his fifth full season, was expected to lead the charge, building on a strong finish to 2018. The V6 turbo-hybrid regulations, in place since 2014, continued to favor engine manufacturers with robust power and efficiency, a challenge Red Bull and Honda aimed to overcome. Drivers like Nico Hülkenberg in 2014 experienced the early hybrid era, where engine performance dictated much of the pecking order.

How it played out

Verstappen began the season strongly, securing a podium finish in the opening Australian Grand Prix. This set the tone for a consistent first half, where he frequently finished in the top four, even when the Red Bull-Honda package wasn't the fastest. The initial races saw him finish 4th in Bahrain, China, and Azerbaijan, followed by another podium in Spain. His breakthrough came at the Austrian Grand Prix, where he secured his first victory of the season from a grid position of 2. This was followed by a dominant performance in the German Grand Prix, a chaotic wet race where he again took victory from grid 2. A significant milestone arrived at the Hungarian Grand Prix, where Verstappen claimed his maiden Formula 1 pole position, ultimately finishing second in the race.

The mid-season saw a change in teammate, with Pierre Gasly replaced by Alex Albon from the Belgian Grand Prix onwards. Verstappen continued to extract maximum performance, even through two DNFs in Belgium (accident) and Japan (collision damage). Despite these setbacks, his consistency was notable. He secured his third victory of the year at the Brazilian Grand Prix, starting from pole position, and concluded the season with a second-place finish in Abu Dhabi. Across the 21 races, Verstappen amassed 278 points, securing 3 wins and 9 podiums, culminating in a third-place finish in the Drivers' Championship.