How Max Verstappen and Red Bull Changed Modern Formula 1
Last updated: August 13, 2026 | This story covers completed Formula 1 seasons through 2025.
In short: Max Verstappen and Red Bull changed modern Formula 1 by combining a record-setting young driver, decisive racecraft and a team capable of developing fast cars across very different seasons. The partnership delivered four consecutive Drivers’ Championships from 2021 to 2024, while the RB18 and RB19 became defining cars of the current era.
When Max Verstappen made his Formula 1 debut in 2015, he was only 17 years old—the youngest driver ever to start an F1 race. A year later, he won his first race for Red Bull in Spain and became the sport’s youngest Grand Prix winner. Those records were memorable, but his larger impact came later: Verstappen and Red Bull turned early promise into a sustained championship run.
The result was not simply a story of outright speed. It was a story about driver development, engineering response, race execution and the ability to keep improving while the competitive picture changed.
Max Verstappen and Red Bull: the key milestones
| Season | Milestone | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | F1 debut at 17 | Verstappen became the youngest driver to start a Formula 1 race. |
| 2016 | Won on his Red Bull debut | Victory in Spain made him F1’s youngest race winner at 18 years and 228 days. |
| 2021 | First World Championship | The season ended Mercedes’ run of Drivers’ Championships and began Verstappen’s title streak. |
| 2022 | RB18 championship double | Verstappen won 15 races; Red Bull won 17 of 22 and secured both championships. |
| 2023 | Record-breaking RB19 season | Verstappen won 19 of 22 races, while the RB19 won 21 of 22. |
| 2024 | Fourth consecutive title | Verstappen retained the Drivers’ Championship even as Red Bull fell to third in the teams’ standings. |
| 2025 | The streak ended in a close finish | Lando Norris won the title by two points; Verstappen finished second and Red Bull placed third. |
Milestone references: Formula 1’s Max Verstappen profile, Red Bull Racing year by year and the official 2025 Drivers’ Standings.
From teenage prospect to four-time World Champion
Verstappen’s early F1 career was defined by speed and assertive wheel-to-wheel racing. It was also a learning period. As the seasons progressed, the raw aggression that made him exciting was joined by stronger tyre management, better control over long races and the consistency required to compete for a championship.
His first title arrived in 2021 after a season-long contest with Lewis Hamilton. Verstappen then defended the championship with the RB18 in 2022, produced a record 19-win campaign in 2023 and held on for a fourth consecutive crown in 2024. Formula 1’s official record now lists him as champion for 2021 through 2024.
The 2025 season added a useful counterpoint. Red Bull and Verstappen recovered strongly late in the year, but Norris won the championship by two points. That narrow result showed how quickly the competitive order can shift—and why a dominant run should be understood in context rather than treated as permanent.
What Red Bull contributed to the partnership
Red Bull’s modern success was built over many years. The team entered Formula 1 in 2005, became a championship operation with Sebastian Vettel from 2010 to 2013 and later returned to the top with Verstappen. Its driver-development system created a direct route from junior racing to Formula 1, while the senior team supplied the engineering and operational foundation needed to turn talent into results.
The RB18 is a particularly important example. It began the 2022 season with reliability problems, but Red Bull developed it into a car that won 17 races and delivered both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships. The RB19 then extended that foundation in 2023 and won 21 of 22 races—one of the most dominant seasons by a car in F1 history.
That combination of a decisive driver and a team able to respond across a long season is the central reason the Verstappen–Red Bull partnership changed the modern F1 landscape.
Why the RB18 and RB19 remain meaningful to collectors
For many fans, an F1 model is a way to remember a particular season rather than simply display a team logo. The RB18 represents Verstappen’s second championship and Red Bull’s first Constructors’ title since 2013. The RB19 represents the peak of the team’s 2023 dominance.
Scale also changes the collecting experience. A 1:12 model has more physical presence, while a 1:18 model is easier to place on a smaller shelf or desk. A building kit adds an assembly activity before the finished model can be displayed or controlled. These are format differences—not claims that one option is universally better.
Explore the Red Bull era in RC form
Voltz Toys currently lists three licensed Red Bull options that connect directly with these two championship cars. Specifications and availability may change, so confirm the current product page before ordering.
RB18 · 1:12 scale
Larger-scale RC model
The larger of the two RB18 scales currently listed, with No. 1 and No. 11 style selections shown on the product page.
View the RB18 1:12 RC car →RB18 · 1:18 scale
More compact RC model
A smaller-scale RB18 alternative for fans who want the same championship-car subject in a more compact format.
View the RB18 1:18 RC car →RB19 · 1:16 scale
55-piece RC building kit
This licensed kit combines a 55-piece assembly format with remote-control operation after the model is built.
View the RB19 building kit →Frequently asked questions
How many F1 World Championships has Max Verstappen won?
Verstappen has won four Drivers’ Championships: 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. He finished second to Lando Norris in 2025.
Which Red Bull car won the 2022 championships?
The RB18 carried Red Bull to the 2022 Constructors’ Championship, while Verstappen won the Drivers’ Championship with 15 race victories.
Why is the RB19 considered historically significant?
The RB19 won 21 of the 22 Grands Prix held in 2023. Verstappen won 19 of those races and secured his third consecutive Drivers’ Championship.
What is the difference between 1:12 and 1:18 scale?
The numbers describe the model’s size relative to the real car. A 1:12 model is larger than a 1:18 model of the same subject. Check the individual product page for exact dimensions and current specifications.
Continue exploring Formula 1 at home
Compare licensed models from Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes in the Voltz Toys F1 RC collection.
Explore Licensed F1 RC CarsEditorial note: This article discusses Formula 1 history and links to licensed merchandise sold by Voltz Toys. The featured editorial artwork is not an official Formula 1 or Red Bull Racing poster and does not depict a specific retail product.