Verstappen, the best driver in history... starting from pole position

On Japanese lands, Max Verstappen offered a striking demonstration: author of a crazy pole position on Saturday then from a controlled race from start to finish on Sunday, the Dutchman once again dazzled with his mastery in order to surpass McLaren yet favorites.

On the demanding Suzuka track, which he particularly likes, Max Verstappen added a 64th victory and a 41st pole position to his list of achievements. At 27, the Dutchman is well on his way to rewriting the history books of the F1 and he is already dominating some key aspects of the discipline, as evidenced by a statistic that reveals his talent: his exceptional pole position-to-victory conversion rate. In total, out of 41 starts from the top spot, the Dutchman has been able to turn 33 into successes, an exceptional conversion rate of 80,49%.

The best… by far

This statistic might seem trivial, as figures can sometimes be open to interpretation. However, when it comes to conversions, Max Verstappen is a cut above the rest. Here are some telling comparisons: Lewis Hamilton won 61 Grands Prix from 104 starts in the lead, a conversion rate of 58%, while Fernando Alonso has a slightly higher ratio, with 14 wins out of his 22 pole positions (63%). The two drivers with prolific careers are far behind the Dutchman.

To find higher rates, we have to look to drivers with less impressive track records. Jody Scheckter, Tony Brooks, and Emerson Fittipaldi have been able to convert 66,67% of their pole positions into victories, but they have only achieved this feat four times or fewer.

Of course, to ensure the statistical reading is not biased, we must ignore the drivers who converted their only pole into a victory and only take into account multiple winners from first place. Otherwise, the best in terms of conversion are, among others, Pastor Maldonado, George Russell or more recently Oscar piastri since they can boast a 100% conversion rate!

Thus, the four-time world champion's conversion rate further demonstrates his imperialism in the discipline. His relentless consistency, as he displayed in Japan, reinforces the idea that at the moment, in Formula 1, he is playing in another category.

ALSO READ > Honda will have a say in choosing Aston Martin drivers