Verstappen singles out a moment in the 2018 as key career turning point

Speaking on the Talking Bulls podcast, the four-time world champion highlighted the Canadian Grand Prix in 2018 as a crucial point in his F1 career where everything “clicked.”

The Dutch driver explained how the outing at the Montreal race brought an end to a negative spiral he had found himself in.

“2018, the start. The first seven races, I think, I was just making mistakes myself, and then you get into a negative spiral. You try to push even harder, and it all just doesn't work out. I was really upset with myself, and then I had a turnaround in Montreal. I have to say, I think from that day, that's really when it clicked,” Verstappen said.

The 2018 race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, where he recorded a third-place finish, indeed proved to be a pivotal point in Verstappen’s career, as it not only put an end to a streak of inconsistent results but also marked the beginning of several impressive performances. Since the Canadian Grand Prix, he has gone on to win a staggering 68 races.

Ralf Schumacher also named Verstappen among the best drivers in Formula 1 history. The 50-year-old singled out the Red Bull Racing driver alongside his brother Michael as the greatest drivers he has witnessed.

Schumacher highlighted their relentless quest for improved performance as one of several traits that make them stand out.

With the post-2025 season finale action and reaction continuing, our paddock update is the place to be.

Follow and subscribe to our channels on YouTube and Spotify to stay up to date with all the happenings as they unfold, following the final Grand Prix of the campaign.

Check out the latest episode of our paddock update here 👇