Nigel Chiu
Sports activities Journalist
Max Verstappen set a number of new information in F1 this yr in arguably probably the most dominant season by a driver within the sport’s historical past; Verstappen turned a three-time world champion and has now left a mark on the game which places him up there with F1’s greats
Final Up to date: 27/11/23 1:54pm
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
As Max Verstappen ended a record-breaking season together with his nineteenth victory of 2023, have a look again on the Purple Bull driver’s high 5 biggest wins
As Max Verstappen ended a record-breaking season together with his nineteenth victory of 2023, have a look again on the Purple Bull driver’s high 5 biggest wins
Components 1 in 2023 will go down because the season of information as Max Verstappen and Purple Bull ripped up the historical past books in an virtually good marketing campaign.
Verstappen’s 19 wins have put him into territory with among the sport’s biggest ever drivers as he surpassed Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost and, on Sunday in Abu Dhabi, Sebastian Vettel to turn into the third most profitable driver by way of wins.
His 54 victories put him solely behind Michael Schumacher (91) and Lewis Hamilton (103). Verstappen remains to be some years off getting close to Hamilton, however what information did he break this yr?
Most wins in a season and highest proportion of wins
Verstappen already took this report in 2022 when he gained 15 races to beat the 13 triumphs by Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher.
However, the Dutchman has gone 4 higher in 2023 by profitable 19 of the 22 races. Which means 86 per cent of the Grands Prix this yr have been gained by Verstappen, which breaks Alberto Ascari’s 1952 benchmark of 75 per cent.
There have been rather a lot fewer races in that period too as Ascari gained six out of eight occasions, so Verstappen’s 86 per cent is kind of unbelievable. Will it ever be overwhelmed? In all probability not.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Anthony Davidson takes us again to the Austrian Grand Prix, the place Max Verstappen haggled together with his engineers to push for the quickest lap of the day…
Most consecutive wins
When Vettel gained the ultimate 9 races in 2013, no person thought anybody may win extra Grands Prix in a row. Nonetheless, Verstappen went on a outstanding profitable run this season from his comeback drive on the Miami Grand Prix in Might all the best way to September’s Italian Grand Prix by standing on the highest step of the rostrum 10 occasions.
Simply to warn you forward of 2024, Verstappen is on one other victory streak of seven wins, which started with the Japanese Grand Prix.
These runs meant Verstappen ended the season with 575 factors – probably the most in a season and his 290-point margin over Purple Bull team-mate Sergio Perez is the most important ever distinction between first and second within the Drivers’ Championship.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Sergio Perez offers reward to Purple Bull team-mate Max Verstappen on his excellent performances this yr as they each mirror on their 2023 season.
First driver to guide over 1000 laps
Verstappen was conscious he may transcend the 1000 laps led mark throughout the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and he did it, simply, ending his 2023 marketing campaign with 1003 laps on the entrance of the pack.
The earlier benchmark was Vettel’s 739 laps led in 2011 and Verstappen additionally made historical past with the very best proportion of laps led in a season with 75.7 per cent versus Jim Clark’s 71.47 per cent from 1963.
Throughout the Abu Dhabi race, Verstappen instructed Purple Bull it was superb to pit Perez first, so he may keep within the lead and guarantee he surpassed the 1000-lap mark.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Max Verstappen wins yet one more Grand Prix to shut the curtain on the 2023 F1 season.
“I knew it was on the cards going into the race. Also, from the engineering side with the strategy, we wanted to try and plan it in a way that I wouldn’t pit too early, so just wait for the others to pit” defined Verstappen.
“Of course, to try and achieve that it was maybe not always the, let’s say, the fastest strategy. But I wanted to stay in the lead, to get the laps in.”
Think about if Singapore did not occur
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Watch the highest 10 most viral moments from the 2023 Components 1 season.
You simply need to assume what would have occurred if Purple Bull did not have their one-off poor weekend on the Singapore Grand Prix the place Verstappen completed fifth after being eradicated in Q2.
He completed second to Perez on the Saudi Arabian and Azerbaijan Grand Prix, then has gained each different race so has taken a report 21 podiums this season and probably the most consecutive high two finishes with 14.
Three of Verstappen’s wins got here in Miami, Austin and Las Vegas – so he turns into the primary driver to win 3 times in a single nation in the identical yr.
Different information damaged by Verstappen
As in addition to all of the above, Verstappen has additionally achieved the next this yr:
- Most consecutive wins from pole (16 – a streak that started on the 2022 Dutch Grand Prix)
- Most wins from pole in a season (12)
- Most consecutive races as championship chief (39 – a streak that started on the 2022 Spanish Grand Prix)
- Most consecutive factors scored
- Most pitstops by the profitable driver in a single race (Dutch Grand Prix)
- Most Dash wins in a season (4)
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Max Verstappen sings alongside to Viva Las Vegas by Elvis after profitable the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Verstappen happy with Purple Bull group spirit
Verstappen has lauded his Purple Bull group all season and the technical prowess from the likes of chief technical officer Adrian Newey, technical officer Pierre Wache, aerodynamics designers Craig Skinner and Enrico Balbo, plus head of efficiency engineering Ben Waterhouse have been pivotal.
The tons of of different individuals again at Milton Keynes have all contributed to, statistically, the best ever season by a group in F1.
Verstappen was requested what he’ll keep in mind most from this yr and mentioned: “I believe simply the group spirit. Not a lot the wins or poles or laps led. I believe simply the enjoyment we had as a group.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Max Verstappen celebrated with a team radio singalong after claiming the best win percentage record over a season in Sao Paulo.
“The wins are nice in fact however I believe it is also essential to have environment within the group and have lots of enjoyable.
“The people that you work with, there’s a lot of smart people in the team and I know that whatever you do in motor racing, I think it never will top that. Just seeing everyone at work, trying to do the best they can every day and give it their all out there for you. That’s really nice to see.”
24 races in 2024! Watch each spherical of subsequent season dwell on Sky Sports activities F1, beginning with the Bahrain Grand Prix from February 29-March 2. Stream F1 on Sky Sports with NOW
