(Paris) Max Verstappen’s dominance is so striking that it looks like he has already won a third consecutive Drivers’ Championship, even though there are still 10 races to go after Formula 1’s mid-season break.
With a 125 point lead over his nearest rival, the Red Bull driver is already in a position to watch videos of his highlights and list his favorite wins. There have been 10 in 12 races so far, plus two more in the sprint race.
After winning the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday, Verstappen was asked which of his victories he preferred.
“It’s hard to choose. There were several very nice ones, he said. I think the one I really liked was Miami at the time. »
Back then?
May 7 to be more precise, although it could be said that it’s been a while in the world of Verstappen. Especially since he has won every subsequent race since.
The Mexican driver was fresh off a one-two finish in Azerbaijan and his confidence was further boosted when he clinched the lead in Miami, as Verstappen qualified in ninth place.
“Tough qualifying,” Verstappen said. For me, it was the race during which I had the most fun. »
Not for Perez, who finished second to Verstappen and hasn’t won since. He admitted that his confidence had been badly shaken and it showed in the results after Miami.
Perez finished 16th in Monaco, fourth in Spain and sixth in Canada. He also went five races in a row without qualifying in the top 10 despite Red Bull easily having the best car in F1.
“It was a little tough,” Perez said after finishing second in Belgium. I’m really looking forward to not leaving the podium again by the end of the year. »
Charles Leclerc, from the Ferrari team, who was third on Sunday, is also a contender for the podium.
“It was the best we could achieve today, no doubt,” said Leclerc, who hasn’t won a race since July 10, 2022.
Verstappen is the youngest driver to win an F1 race, aged 18, on his Red Bull debut in 2016.
If Verstappen wins at home at the Dutch Grand Prix on August 27, he will equal Sebastian Vettell’s record of nine straight wins, set in 2013 with Red Bull.
Verstappen’s own record of 15 F1 victories, achieved last year, could also be beaten. Even though he is only 25 years old, he has already won 45 races in his career.
Next up on the list is four-time F1 champion Alain Prost, fourth all-time with 51 wins.
Verstappen’s intensity and hunger for victory is such that even Vettel’s tally of 53 could be within reach this year.
It is increasingly difficult to bet against Verstappen.
