Sky is the limit for double world champion Verstappen
Dutch driver is on course to smash the record for most victories in a season
11 October 2022 - 18:58
byAbhishek Takle
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Max Verstappen of Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrates at Suzuka in Japan at the weekend. Picture: CLIVE MASON/GETTY IMAGES
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has more wins in mind, and a record still to break, this season after securing his second successive Formula One world championship at Suzuka on Sunday.
The Japanese Grand Prix victory, which elevated Verstappen to a select group of double world champions, was the Dutch driver’s 12th from 18 races. With four rounds remaining, that puts him on course to smash the record for most victories in a single season.
That benchmark stands at 13 and is shared by seven-time world champion and Ferrari great Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel, who won four successive titles with Red Bull between 2010 and 2013.
The two Germans dominated in seasons of 18 races for Schumacher (2004) and 19 races for Vettel (2013) rather than the current record 22.
Verstappen can equal the record at the next round in Austin, Texas — a race he won from pole position last year.
“There is no real pressure anymore but I still want to of course try to win more races,” Verstappen said. “With the car we have now you have to try to take advantage of that, because you don’t know if you’re ever going to have that again, next year, in the years to come.
“So we’ll definitely try to win a few more.”
Provided Verstappen wins in Austin, he can then go for the record at his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez’s home Mexican Grand Prix. Perez finished on the podium there in 2021 with Verstappen victorious. Having won in Monaco and Singapore, the Mexican will be keen to give his passionate fans a home triumph to celebrate, though.
Verstappen would need to win all the last four races for a success rate of 72.7% from this season and beat Schumacher’s victory percentage of 72.2% from 2004 — a record for the modern era.
The 25-year-old has enjoyed a similar run before and was on a five-race victory streak up to Singapore, the race before Japan.
“It’s really been an enjoyable year and of course a very special year, which will be very hard in the future to match from myself,” said Verstappen, who is now level with double world champion Fernando Alonso on 32 career wins.
“That’s why we really have to appreciate it and really enjoy it.”
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Sky is the limit for double world champion Verstappen
Dutch driver is on course to smash the record for most victories in a season
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has more wins in mind, and a record still to break, this season after securing his second successive Formula One world championship at Suzuka on Sunday.
The Japanese Grand Prix victory, which elevated Verstappen to a select group of double world champions, was the Dutch driver’s 12th from 18 races. With four rounds remaining, that puts him on course to smash the record for most victories in a single season.
That benchmark stands at 13 and is shared by seven-time world champion and Ferrari great Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel, who won four successive titles with Red Bull between 2010 and 2013.
The two Germans dominated in seasons of 18 races for Schumacher (2004) and 19 races for Vettel (2013) rather than the current record 22.
Verstappen can equal the record at the next round in Austin, Texas — a race he won from pole position last year.
“There is no real pressure anymore but I still want to of course try to win more races,” Verstappen said. “With the car we have now you have to try to take advantage of that, because you don’t know if you’re ever going to have that again, next year, in the years to come.
“So we’ll definitely try to win a few more.”
Provided Verstappen wins in Austin, he can then go for the record at his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez’s home Mexican Grand Prix. Perez finished on the podium there in 2021 with Verstappen victorious. Having won in Monaco and Singapore, the Mexican will be keen to give his passionate fans a home triumph to celebrate, though.
Verstappen would need to win all the last four races for a success rate of 72.7% from this season and beat Schumacher’s victory percentage of 72.2% from 2004 — a record for the modern era.
The 25-year-old has enjoyed a similar run before and was on a five-race victory streak up to Singapore, the race before Japan.
“It’s really been an enjoyable year and of course a very special year, which will be very hard in the future to match from myself,” said Verstappen, who is now level with double world champion Fernando Alonso on 32 career wins.
“That’s why we really have to appreciate it and really enjoy it.”
Reuters
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