"He channeled any frustration into a season of relentless consistency"

Max Verstappen's talent is unquestioned. It is the main reason why many people argue that he is perhaps the best driver in Formula 1. According to Scott Mitchell of The Race, the Dutchman has developed in a different way.

The speed has always been there with Verstappen, but Mitchell recalls the first half of the 2018 season when the Dutchman did not always have it under control. Verstappen insisted at the time that he did not need to change anything in his approach. Mitchell thinks he did, particularly in 2020.

Verstappen is now a complete driver

"What was noticable in 2020 was how Verstappen was able to shrug off any potential victim complex, once it became clear Red Bull's title challenge was effectively dead on arrival. He channeled any frustration into a season of relentless consistency, despite a car that looked quite wild at times.

"Verstappen essentially made peace with his situation in 2020 and that seemed to smooth out the worst of his remaining rough edges. Whatever is coded into his brain throughout his career, is now supported by a layer of rationality that comes with experience of F1 itself," said Mitchell.