The elite club Verstappen joins with third world title

Max Verstappen: Red Bull driver joins illustrious list of F1's three-time consecutive world champions Max Verstappen is not just a three-time Formula 1 world champion, he's won his titles consecutively, something only four other drivers have done; Verstappen could win his 50th F1 race next time out at the United States Grand Prix - live on Sky Sports F1 from October 20-22 By Nigel Chiu Last Updated: 11/10/23 5:07pm Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Naomi Schiff looks back at the best of Max Verstappen's 2023 season which saw the Red Bull driver take his third world title in Qatar. Naomi Schiff looks back at the best of Max Verstappen's 2023 season which saw the Red Bull driver take his third world title in Qatar. Max Verstappen sealed his third consecutive title last weekend to put himself among Formula 1's greats. Verstappen joins Jack Brabham, Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda, Nelson Piquet and Ayrton Senna as a three-time champion. However, none of those aforementioned drivers won their titles consecutively, unlike Verstappen.The 26-year-old, who has won 64 per cent of the Grand Prix held since the start of 2021, isn't the first driver to do that but he certainly joins an elite club. Juan Manuel FangioWins during hat-trick of titles era (1954-1956): 13 (54 per cent)When you think of F1's early years in the 1950s, you think of Juan Manuel Fangio. Having won the second ever Formula 1 World Championship in 1951 with Alfa Romeo, Fangio joined Maserati in 1953 and finished runner-up that year.He won the first two races he entered in 1954, before leaving Maserati for Mercedes mid-season - something that wasn't unusual in those days.The Silver Arrows had success straight away as Fangio led a one-two from team-mate Karl Kling at the French Grand Prix as the aerodynamics of the Mercedes blew the field away. Fangio went on to claim three more victories in 1954 and sealed his second title. Juan Manuel Fangio led a one-two from Karl Kling in Mercedes' first ever F1 race at the 1945 French Grand Prix He stayed at Mercedes for 1955, a year overshadowed by the Le Mans disaster which saw 83 spectators killed after debris flew into the crowd. Mercedes withdrew from all motorsport for 34 years, although the decision was said to be taken before the accident.In F1, Fangio and new team-mate Stirling Moss dominated an unusual season as several events were cancelled following the Le Mans crash.Fangio joined Ferrari for 1956 in a turbulent year that still saw him win the title. He didn't get on with Enzo Ferrari nor team manager Eraldo Sculati and had problems with the car's reliability and handling.Back then, drivers could share cars and share points. In the finale, Peter Collins was on course to win the championship but handed over his car to Fangio, so the pair shared six points for second place which gave Fangio a third consecutive title. Juan Manuel Fangio was dominant during the 1950s in F1 The Argentine returned to Maserati in 1957 and was back on top of his game as he won the opening three races he entered.His fourth win of the season, at the Nordschleife, is still regarded as one of the greatest drives in F1 history. Fangio had a poor pit stop and came out 50 seconds behind Ferrari duo Collins and Mike Hawthorn.On the penultimate lap, he overtook both drivers and held on to win by three seconds and sealed a fourth consecutive crown. Juan Manuel Fangio won five titles in F1, only Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher have more Michael SchumacherWins during hat-trick of titles era (2000-2002): 29 (56 per cent)Michael Schumacher joined Ferrari in 1996 on the back of two world titles with Benetton. He joined a team which was struggling, but often punched above the car's weight to battle the likes of Jacques Villeneuve, David Coulthard and Mika Hakkinen.Schumacher broke his leg at the 1999 British Grand Prix - the first season Ferrari had a realistic chance of winning the title.He came back to help Ferrari win the Constructors' Championship but the Scuderia's wait for a first drivers' title since Jody Scheckter in 1979 continued.The 2000 season saw Schumacher go head-to-head with Hakkinen as their rivalry came to a climax. They won all but four races that year and a memorable weekend at Suzuka went the way of Schumacher after an exceptional show of driving from both drivers in the penultimate round of the year. One of Michael Schumacher's most impressive drives came at the 2000 Japanese Grand Prix as he won his first title with Ferrari 2001 was more comfortable for Schumacher as he won a then record-equalling nine races and sealed the title with four events remaining.It was a similar story in 2002, except the infamous Austrian Grand Prix made the headlines for all the wrong reasons as Rubens Barrichello gi