Max Verstappen makes new formula 1 history with win at Mexico Grand Prix
Max Verstappen secured another victory in an eventful Mexican Grand Prix, successfully fending off early challenges from Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc.
The current world champion kicked off the race from the third spot, following closely behind the two Ferrari drivers.
However, the Dutch driver effortlessly capitalized on his initial position, skillfully maneuvering his Red Bull car between the two Italian vehicles to secure the lead, marking his 51st victory.
The Mexican Grand Prix, marked by an early departure of hometown favorite Sergio Perez due to a first-turn collision and a red flag incident on lap 33 involving Kevin Magnussen hitting the wall, ultimately saw the Dutch driver comfortably securing a notable victory, setting a new Formula 1 record.
The 26-year-old driver, who had previously equaled a record with 15 wins in the preceding 18 races of the season, reached another significant milestone.
According to ESPN F1, Verstappen claimed his fifth victory at the Autodrome Hermanos Rodriguez, becoming the first driver to achieve 16 wins in a single Formula 1 season.
This exceptional accomplishment occurred just weeks after he became the first F1 driver to win three sprint races in a single season.
Since his triumph at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 12, 2021, Verstappen has amassed an impressive total of 32 victories, matching the career wins of Fernando Alonso.
Notably, this recent achievement has also brought him level with the legendary four-time World Champion, Alain Prost, in terms of victories. However, it’s essential to point out that Prost required 199 race starts to reach 51 wins, while Verstappen reached the same milestone in just 182 starts.
To provide some perspective, Prost secured his last victory in 1993 at Hockenheim at the age of 38, whereas the Dutch champion celebrated his 51st victory just last month at the age of 26.
Verstappen is now shifting his focus to the Brazilian Grand Prix at the Interlagos circuit, with the aim of further enhancing his remarkable achievements in what can only be described as a season marked by record-breaking feats.