Amid Max Verstappen's extended dominance in Formula 1, the Orange Army continues to grow. The Dutch Grand Prix is no longer the Dutchman's only “home“ race when it comes to fan turnout, with record-setting crowds turning out in Austria and Belgium as well to support their driver. Verstappen has rewarded them in kind, breaking multiple single-season records in 2023 en route to his third straight world title — and his most dominant one yet. The combination of driver, car, and team has been one of the most prolific and potent the sport has ever seen, and the 26-year-old's fanbase perfectly embodies that success.
- Asher Fair
Beyond the Flag Editor
What we’ll remember about this fandom a decade from now
Max Verstappen's record-breaking goes far beyond a list of “Wikipedia records“. Recording 10 consecutive victories is something that will be hard for anybody in any car to top; it had been 10 years since Sebastian Vettel broke the record with nine, and many fans still remember that like it was yesterday. Vettel also tied another record that year with 13 wins, and after breaking that in 2022 with 15, Verstappen hit 16 with three races remaining in the 2023 season, giving his fans another reason to celebrate. He went on to finish the year with 19 victories, including the final seven in a row.
Why you should join this fandom
Amid doubts that Formula 1 will be able to sustain its growth with one driver dominating, this fandom continues to prove everybody wrong. The sport is more popular than ever, and as much as he has already gone from “next“ to “now“, Max Verstappen is still viewed as a star of the future. At just 26 years of age, he figures to be a factor for many years to come and has the potential to break even more major records. This could very well be a case of “get on board, or get run over”