Three Instances Where the Fastest Car Did Not Win the Driver's World Championship

      For the past four years, Max Verstappen has been the leading figure in Formula One. He has claimed championship victory in each of the last four seasons, starting with his contentious win over Lewis Hamilton in 2021. However, since that time, his dominance has been largely unchallenged.

      During the 2022 and 2023 seasons, Super Max captured both titles in a manner previously unseen. Over these two years, he triumphed in 33 out of 44 races, easily securing the championship both times while also breaking records. Nevertheless, last season marked a shift in the competition.

      🚨Max Verstappen has achieved it once more! He now equals Sebastien Vettel’s record for 9 consecutive victories 🏆#DutchGP pic.twitter.com/GP29al6Uca

      — Bodog (@BodogCA) August 27, 2023

      McLaren's Ascent

      Red Bull seemed once more in control, with Verstappen winning five of the first seven races. However, midway through the season, a series of updates from McLaren positioned them as the team with the fastest car on the grid. The Flying Dutchman managed to maintain his lead from earlier in the season to secure his fourth consecutive title.

      However, to achieve a record-equalling fifth consecutive championship this season, online betting platforms suggest that he may need to face a tougher challenge. Following McLaren's impressive season start, especially through Oscar Piastri—winner of four out of the first six races—the reigning champion is currently viewed as a heavy 8/1 underdog for this title, while both McLaren drivers have shorter odds, with Piastri now the favorite.

      The good news for Verstappen is that he has encountered this situation before. Here are three instances when the fastest car did not win the world championship.

      2005: Alonso Outlasts McLaren’s Speed Machine

      The 2005 season is a rare case where having the fastest car wasn’t enough. McLaren’s MP4-20 was incredibly fast, and drivers Kimi Räikkönen and Juan Pablo Montoya were seen as the quickest on the grid. The duo repeatedly demonstrated their cars' raw speed, with Räikkönen achieving seven victories. Yet, it was Fernando Alonso and Renault who ended up as the champions. How did this occur?

      Although the McLaren was formidable, it was notoriously fragile. Räikkönen faced several engine failures, causing him to retire from two races. He also suffered a significant suspension issue that cost him the European Grand Prix on the final lap, allowing Alonso to take the win.

      On the other hand, Renault and Alonso operated with precision, rarely making mistakes. The Spaniard won three of the first four races, and his subsequent win in Europe all but secured the championship. Although Räikkönen and McLaren mounted a comeback in the second half of the season, the initial damage was done. Additionally, Alonso consistently finished as a runner-up whenever Räikkönen won, accumulating valuable points even without outright victories.

      2007: Räikkönen’s Theft from McLaren

      Two years later, the situation flipped, but McLaren found itself at the center of controversy once more. This time, the Woking-based team had the fastest car in the MP4-22, driven by rookie sensation Lewis Hamilton and two-time reigning champion Fernando Alonso, who had switched from Renault after his back-to-back titles. The rivalry within the team was intense and ultimately contributed to their inability to capitalize on their speed advantage.

      Kimi Räikkönen, now with Ferrari, wasn’t seen as the immediate frontrunner, even after winning his debut race in Australia. However, his consistency paid off. The internal conflict between Alonso and Hamilton peaked during qualifying in Hungary. The combination of these disputes, strategic blunders, driver errors, and a significant scandal led to both McLaren drivers losing vital points.

      Räikkönen was patient, delivered results when it mattered, and seized opportunities. The Finn won the last two races of the season while championship leader Hamilton was struggling, clinching the title by a single point in the final race of the season in Brazil, making it one of Formula 1’s most dramatic championship heists.

      2021: Verstappen Versus Mercedes’ Juggernaut

      Considered one of the most contentious seasons in F1 history, 2021 saw Max Verstappen claim his first Drivers’ Championship by narrowly defeating Lewis Hamilton in Abu Dhabi. Red Bull and their Dutch star likely had the fastest car at the season's outset, but Hamilton's clever strategies enabled him to win three of the first four races.

      As the season progressed, Mercedes closed the gap, and the rivalry between the two championship contenders erupted in various on-track confrontations, particularly in Great Britain and Italy. Yet Hamilton emerged stronger from these battles, and his W12 was significantly superior to Verstappen’s Red Bull in the season’s second