"In Formula 1 only the world champions end up in the history books"

Not only was Max Verstappen's glorious victory a fitting end to his generally strong season, but, according to Michael Bleekemolen, it is also a taster of the Dutchman's future in Formula 1.

Where Max Verstappen was touted as the new Schumacher or Senna after his dazzling debut a few years ago, such promises have so far not been realised. However, with ten victories to his name, the Dutchman is doing anything but bad and, according to Bleekemolen, the context also needs to be looked at.

In Bleekemolen's time it was already news if a Dutch driver managed to appear on a Formula 1 grid, and in the light of this we should also set expectations towards Verstappen, says Bleekemolen. In a conversation with the Volkskrant he says: "As far as that is concerned, we [as Dutch] are a strange people ... Once we have eaten caviar, we expect it at breakfast the next morning."

Should we then view Verstappen's career so far as a disappointment? Looking at the sky-high expectations around the Dutchman "maybe a little", says Bleekemolen. "But Max creates that himself, doesn't he? He goes for the highest. That's what he says and what he radiates. And he's right, because in Formula 1 only the world champions end up in the history books."