Lewis Hamilton faces a daunting challenge as he aims for a record-breaking eighth Drivers’ Championship, with Max Verstappen poised to pursue a fourth consecutive title. The intense rivalry between the two drivers culminated in a controversial conclusion to the 2021 title fight, and since then, Verstappen has continued his dominance.
Verstappen’s stellar performance in the second half of the 2022 season carried into 2023, where he secured a record-breaking 19 out of 22 Grand Prix victories, claiming the World Championship with a commanding 290-point lead over his teammate. With the RB19 engineering masterclass, Verstappen became a three-time world champion and elevated to third place on the all-time Grand Prix victory list.
A survey of 4,433 Express Sport readers revealed that 64% believe Verstappen will clinch another Drivers’ Championship in 2024, while 36% anticipate a different victor at the FIA prize gala. Hamilton, experiencing his second-ever winless season, finished third in the standings behind Red Bull’s Sergio Perez.
Despite podium appearances and securing the ‘best of the rest’ title, Hamilton faced a challenging season, marked by a lack of race victories. His only notable performance was at the United States Grand Prix, where he finished second but was later disqualified due to a technical infringement.
As the 2024 season approaches, Hamilton is expected to be a leading contender for the title, provided Mercedes delivers competitive machinery. However, Verstappen remains cautious about the competition, acknowledging the evolving nature of the field with new regulations and predicting a closer battle among teams.
