F1: The 5 seasons of Max Verstappen 

2018: Equal footing with Daniel Ricciardo

Soaking in the applause after winning in Mexico in 2018

The intra-team battle between the genial Aussie Daniel Ricciardo and supremely competitive Max Verstappen created sparks in the first year and fireworks in the second inevitably leading to a conflagration in the third. Daniel Ricciardo felt that the team was siding with Max, given his youth and backing his ambitions of becoming the youngest ever F1 World Champion.

There was no clear number at Red Bull one now. No one was ready to concede a millimetre on the racetrack or a millisecond on the lap times. Both won twice, Ricciardo in China and Monaco and Verstappen in Austria and Mexico. There was hardly anything to separate them, but the most talented driver line-up on the grid was to be broken shortly. He finished ahead of Daniel who had a string of DNFs (8) through no fault of his own and in a sensational decision, that shook the driver market, went to Renault on a handsome 2-season deal.

Championship: 4th | Points: 249 | Podiums: 11 | Wins: 2