Max Verstappen breaks a 71-year-old record in Formula 1!

Max Verstappen, the man of all records. If we no longer count the number of statistics he pushed back in 2023, the Dutchman beat, at the end of the Brazilian Grand Prix, a mark even more impressive than the rest. With his 17th success of the season at Interlagos, which hosted the 20th round of the year, the driver Red Bull ensured a record by the end of the current financial year.

With a 17/20 in 2023 – series in progress obviously, before the last two Grands Prix of the season in Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi – Max Verstappen has a victory/GP ratio of 85%! In the “worst” scenario, that is to say no additional victory in the last two rounds, the Batavian would therefore have a record of 17/22, or a ratio of 77,3%… which however remains higher than the previous one. record which was held by Alberto Ascari and which was 71 years old! At the time, the Italian had won 6 Grands Prix out of 8 contested in 1952, representing a victory/GP ratio of 75%.

Verstappen celebrates this record… in song

In the best case scenario, if Max Verstappen wins the last two Grands Prix of 2023, his score would therefore increase to 19/22, or 86,4% of victories over a season of Formula 1 ! The 26-year-old Dutchman, disinterested in statistics and records, was not very concerned by these mind-blowing figures after the Brazilian Grand Prix.

“When I joined Formula 1, I didn't tell myself that I had to break a record of 75% wins in a season, declared the three-time world champion. This kind of thing happens when everything is working really well. I feel good in the car, it is very competitive and the team hardly makes any mistakes. This is how we can achieve a season like the one we are currently experiencing. For me, it's all about enjoying the moment and trying to maximize every opportunity. »

A record nevertheless celebrated in song on his radio, at the arrival of the Brazilian Grand Prix. Christian Horner, who was aware of the songs listened to by the Verstappen family during his period in karting, started the song Green, Green Grass of Home by Tom Jones at the end of the race. A tune hummed by the winner of the day, who then declared, hilariously: “ I think I'm better [F1 driver]! »

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