Within F1, everyone knew Perez would have no chance of stopping Verstappen, but those perhaps less well versed in the reality of the sport might have been forgiven for being deceived early in the season.
After four races, the victory tally was two wins each for the Red Bull team-mates. But the Mexican’s second win of the season in Azerbaijan, which at the time he read as an indication that he could be a genuine title contender, was actually the death knell for his hopes.
Perez’s delusion was understandable. After all, he had out-qualified and out-raced Verstappen two times out of four.
But as Verstappen sat behind Perez in Baku, not able to quite get close enough to challenge, he was experimenting in the cockpit with the various settings changes available to a driver on the steering wheel.
Late in the race, he made a breakthrough in working out how to make the car respond in the way he wanted. From then on, even with a crash for Verstappen in qualifying at the next race in Miami, Perez never stood a chance.
Race day in Florida proved a humbling one for Perez. He started on pole, with Verstappen 10th. But by the time Perez pitted for fresh tyres, Verstappen had almost caught him. The Dutchman ran long, Perez never able to close the gap despite fresher tyres. When Verstappen finally pitted, he quickly dispensed with his team-mate and the season’s natural order was set.
It was perhaps Verstappen’s most impressive performance of the year – Verstappen himself said on Sunday it was his favourite, along with those in Belgium, the Netherlands and Japan – and while he went from strength to strength, Perez’s season unravelled.
In eight of Verstappen’s wins so far, Perez has not even managed to finish second. If that says something about the mediocrity of the Mexican’s performances, it also speaks to the excellence of Verstappen’s.
Verstappen is only the 11th driver in history to win three or more titles. He and Red Bull have utterly dominated this season, and Verstappen has achieved a level of perfection in 2023 few drivers have done before.
Within Red Bull, they are well aware of Verstappen’s quality. Team principal Christian Horner has been singing his praises all year. He said at the last race in Japan: “He’s the best driver in F1 at this point in time and everything has to come together – car, driver, team in total harmony.”
Verstappen’s performances have been so consistently impressive that up and down the pit lane, while everyone acknowledges the Red Bull is on another level from any other car, many senior figures are still asking one simple question: how much of this success is down to the car and how much Verstappen?
This writer addressed that question to Red Bull motorsport adviser Helmut Marko a little earlier this season.
“Look where Perez is,” was his response.
Perez, though, is not Hamilton or Alonso.
“No,” Marko agreed. “But there is only Lewis and Fernando. Nobody else is anywhere near this league.”
