Will Max Verstappen break the record of 13 wins in a season?

Facts : By winning the Belgian Grand Prix last Sunday, Max Verstappen won his third victory in a row, his ninth victory of the season, getting closer to the 13 successes in a year which belongs to Michael Schumacher (2004) et Sebastian Vettel (2013)

YES, by Jérémy Satis

The first two Grands Prix in Bahrain and Jeddah predicted a knife battle between Verstappen and Leclerc and a fantastic mano a mano between the two men. And then, the mechanical and strategic setbacks of Ferrari ended up ruining everything, and allowed the Dutch imperialists to go out of business by piling up victories. As a result, after 14 Grands Prix, Super Max has already won nine. Therefore, how can we imagine, after his demonstration in the Ardennes, that he does not win at least five of the last eight. Sainz recognized it himself, “never this season in F1 the gap had never been so big between the two teams » than in Belgium.

The most terrifying thing for the competition is that among the Dutchman's nine victories, only four came when his car was clearly above the rest (Imola, Miami, Hungary, Belgium). In Jeddah, it was crazy with Ferrari, while in Spain, Baku, Canada and France, the Scuderia had at least a little more pace. That says the following: the Batavian doesn't even need to have the fastest car to win races this year.

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Besides, his mistakes can be counted on the fingers of one hand. One in Q3 qualifying in Miami, one in the race in Spain with a passage through the gravel, and one in Hungary with a spin. What do these three failures have in common? He still won the race, every time! It is therefore difficult to imagine, now that the Red Bull seems the fastest car in two races, he doesn't go for at least five.

Especially since Monza will be very similar to Spa, and the straight lines of Mexico, Brazil or even Abu Dhabi could suit him and his RB18 with its breathtaking top speed. At Spa, there was around 1″5 per lap with the fiercest competition… Mercedes fell back low, while Ferrari began to suffer the blow. Even the one who benefits from the same fighter plane in his hands, Sergio Perez, is no longer performing at the level that had allowed him to score a pole and a victory until then. Max Verstappen is currently alone on his planet... the harvest will continue! 

And another trophy for Max Verstappen, who is further expanding his collection. © Antonin Vincent / DPPI

NO, by Valentin Glo

At Spa-Francorchamps, Max Verstappen scored a ninth victory this season. More than the success, it was the insolent ease with which he achieved it that left its mark. The reigning world champion certainly started from 14th place on the starting grid for having changed several engine elements, but this new success seemed inevitable as the Red Bull he had in his hands in Belgium was on another planet. The question is whether it is a state of grace specific to the unique characteristics of the Toboggan des Ardennes or whether the brazen domination of the RB18 promises to be lasting.

Everyone recognizes that at Spa-Francorchamps, Red Bull had the best car. On all points. Ferrari nevertheless wanted to reassure the followers of the great circus of Formula 1 and is already planning on Zandvoort where the Scuderia imagines itself back in the match against the Austrians, on a track with more aerodynamics. Mattia Binotto also showed a certain calmness for the Monza round where Red Bull should nevertheless have the advantage in top speed. However, the Maranello team plans to arrive with a different rear wing, with less drag, promising that “speed will not be a concern. »

Beyond a tightening of performances between Red Bull and Ferrari, Max Verstappen is not immune to experiencing mechanical problems between now and the end of the season, or a collision with Charles Leclerc. With only eight Grands Prix remaining, Max Verstappen needs to win five to beat the record co-held by Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel. Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz and Sergio Pérez are all perfectly capable of grabbing at least one new victory each, not to mention a possible surprise winner like the last two years have seen emerge. Between competitors who do not intend to let themselves be mistreated without reacting and the hazards specific to each race weekend, seeing the record for victories over a season fall this year is far from certain. 

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