Verstappen hopes to win four titles as opponents deal with “brutal” realities.

PARIS, February 25 — As the longest-running Formula One season comes to an end in Bahrain, Max Verstappen appears certain to win the drivers’ championship for a record fourth time, with Red Bull once again emerging as the victorious team.

Regardless of the findings of an impartial inquiry into claims of dominating conduct by team leader Christian Horner, Red Bull has amassed an incredible amount of momentum and produced a breathtaking vehicle that exuded promise during preseason testing.

As the F1 circus begins an arduous and unprecedented run of 24 race weekends lasting to early December, a year of déjà vu is likely with steady, unchanging regulations and no changes to the driver lineups.

A leadership change is unlikely to have an impact on Verstappen’s mental toughness, the team’s well-honed winning habit, Adrian Newey’s creative genius, or his general sense of drive and thirst for more success.