F1 fans have already written the 2024 season off after Max Verstappen blitzed this year’s first pre-season testing session.
The Dutchman, 26, is vying for his fourth successive world title after dominating 2023 in an unprecedented manner.
And he has started off the new year in the same vein by crushing his opposition in the opening pre-season testing session on Wednesday.
Verstappen finished day one a seismic 1.14 seconds quicker than McLaren’s Lando Norris in second, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz a further 0.1 seconds back in third.
And while lap times in testing are not necessarily a reliable indicator of performance, fans are already handing Verstappen another world title.
F1 pundit Matt Gallagher tweeted: “Max P1. See you in 2025 everyone.”
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To which one fan replied: “Not even gonna waste my time/energy watching this season. 2025 we will be there 🔥.”
Another added: “Boooorriiinnnggg, bring on 2025 already.”
A third said: “Max Four-stappen or Max 4-stappen. I imagine this is the convo happening at Red Bull currently.”
While a fourth responded: “But who will be second in the drivers championship? And can Max also win the constructors championship by himself?”
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Verstappen won 19 of the 22 races last season, with Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez claiming two of the other three.
Ferrari’s Sainz was the only non-Red Bull driver to win a race in 2023.
The Bahrain Grand Prix, which kicks off the 2024 season, takes place on March 2.
It will be seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton’s final season at Mercedes before he leaves for Ferrari in 2025.
However, the Brit did not drive on the opening day of testing, while team-mate George Russell finished 12th.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
