Applause, trophies and kisses for Max Verstappenbrand new two-time Formula 1 champion in a season as overwhelming for the Dutchman as it is boring for the fans. Although nothing is or will be comparable to what we saw in 2021 in that spicy duel with Lewis Hamilton Defined on the last lap of the last race of the year, 2022 will be forgettable for the top category of motorsport when it comes to entertainment. But there is always a but. And in this case, with four Grands Prix ahead of us, what could save the season is that “Mad Max” break three F1 all-time records. And let another be the same.
In two weeks, the action will move to North America, with events expected to be massive: October 23 United States GP at the Texan Circuit of the Americas in Austin; and 30, the Mexican GP at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City. For November 13, the GP of San Paolo in Interlago. And on the 20th of that month, the same day as the inauguration of the Men’s World Cup in Qatar, very close, the Abu Dhabi GP on the UAE circuit of Yas Marina.
Verstappen already embraces the second title of his career as the second youngest driver to be a two-time champion: he did it at 25 years and 10 days, behind the German Sebastian Vettel (24) and above from the Spanish Fernando Alonso (25 years and 85 days).
Now the Dutchman will go on to set three category records in the same season: more wins, more points and maximum margin of difference with the second in the league. In addition to being able to match the highest number of podiums in a year.
In the footsteps of Schumacher and Vettel
With his triumph in Suzuka, adds Verstappen 12 Grands Prix won in 2022: Saudi Arabia, Emilia Romagna, Miami, Spain, Azerbaijan, Canada, France, Hungary, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Japan. with this brand It was a win away from 1pm that the Germans took Michael Schumacher in 2004 (over 18 races) and Vettel in 2013 (over 19).
With four GPs to play and overwhelming dominance over the Red Bullit’s hard to think that Max doesn’t become the top winner in a season.
With its 66.7% effectiveness in 2022, it matches the brand Juan Manuel Fangio in 1954, when the Argentine won six of the nine races in “another” Formula 1. If Verstappen had swept away all the remaining races, he would have become the second most effective driver in the history of the category, with 72.7% of victories. A real madness.
It would only be behind 75% of Italians Alberto Ascari in 1952 (6 victories on 8 Gps). And in 2004 he would exceed 72.2% of Schumacher (13 out of 18), 70% of the British Jim Clark in 1963 (7 out of 10) and 68.4% of Vettel in 2013 (13 out of 19).
a hurricane of points
With the increase in the number of Grands Prix per season, obviously the champions have scored more points in a year. Thus the 397 units of Vettel in 2013 were forgotten by the solidity of Hamilton on the Mercedes in 2018 (408) and in 2019 (413). Additionally, last year’s finish was so close to home that Verstappen’s 395.5 points left him fourth in this category and Lewis’s 387.5 second place placed him sixth.
crazy max Today he adds 366 units and Hamilton’s record is within his grasp. Clearly. He has a top career sprint more in Brazil. Knowing the Dutchman’s winning greed, he will not lower a change in the rest of the season with this result to be achieved to write another page in the history book of the highest category.
away from the rest
The third record that Verstappen is about to break this year is the one with the widest margin on second place in the championship. That mark has been held by Vettel since 2013, when he took 155 points from Alonso: 397 against 242. The Dutchman leads the Mexican today with 113 units Sergio Perezhis teammate and another to the Monegasque Charles Leclerc. Mathematically, anything is possible for Max.
The funny thing is that if he succeeds it would be in a similar season to Vettel’s nine years ago. In 2013 the German had taken three of the first eight GPs and Alonso and the German Nico Rossberg, two each. But seb ended the season with ten wins in the last 11 races. devastating.
What happened in 2022? Until the Austrian GP, Leclerc was 38 points behind Verstappen. But the Dutch hurricane he has won six of the last seven races and goodbye couple fight.
match yourself
As if Verstappen were missing something else, the Dutchman could reach – but not surpass – another record: the most podiums in a year. Who has it? He himself, thanks to 18 times, finished in the top three in last year’s 22 races, with 10 wins and 8 second places. This season he has 14 podiums, with 12 wins, second place in Austria and third in Monaco.
Will Max be able to get on the podium in the remaining four races and once again surpass Schumacher’s 17 podiums in 2002, Vettel in 2011 and Hamilton in 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2021?
Source: Clarin
