Max Verstappen championed the Hungarian Grand Prix with a whopping 34-second lead, marking the biggest victory margin of this season.
Verstappen’s commanding triumph at the Hungaroring led to a record-breaking 12th consecutive victory for Red Bull, which started at the final race in Abu Dhabi last season. This streak surpasses McLaren’s 11-win run from 1988.
The 1988 season saw Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, the McLaren MP4/4 chassis, and Honda’s turbo engine raise the bar in F1. The two top-tier drivers of that era – arguably two of the all-time greats – collaborated on creating an exceptional car under a team that strived for excellence.
Like McLaren, Red Bull is also powered by a Honda engine. But this season, the combination of Verstappen and the team is so formidable that they don’t require another driver of his calibre.
Despite Sergio Perez bagging a couple of wins in the initial four races of the year, his recent performances have been lackluster. Meanwhile, Verstappen is cruising with seven straight victories and giving off an invincible vibe.
If this pace is maintained, 2023 will be a year of shattered F1 records. Mercedes’ achievement of 19 wins in 2016 seems to be under threat, as does McLaren’s 1988 record of winning all but one race. Red Bull could very well be the first team to clean sweep.
On the driver front, Verstappen is aiming for Sebastian Vettel’s record of nine consecutive wins with Red Bull in 2013. He is also poised to surpass his own record of 15 wins in a single season, set just last year.
Despite the question mark over Red Bull potentially exceeding the budget cap in 2021 during the design phase of last year’s car, their success this year seems even more impressive than McLaren’s in 1988.
Back then, McLaren and Ferrari were the sole top teams with turbo engines, and Ferrari had taken the last two races of 1987, feeling they just needed to modify that car to remain competitive.
This proved to be a drastic oversight, which underestimated McLaren’s potential to produce an extraordinary car and the impact of their alliance with Honda and Senna alongside Prost to create a formidable team.
In contrast, F1 is currently in its second year under new regulations aimed at levelling the playing field and making it difficult for teams to gain a technical edge.
With the opposition having greater depth, including Mercedes, who dominated with eight consecutive constructors’ titles and seven drivers’ championships from 2014-21, Red Bull continues to surge ahead despite the efforts to catch up.
The Verstappen-Red Bull duo can now be recognized alongside the dominant duos in history like Alberto Ascari and Ferrari, Juan Manuel Fangio and Mercedes, Jim Clark and Lotus, Nigel Mansell and Williams FW14B, and Michael Schumacher and Ferrari.
The Red Bull RB19 is etching its place in history as a legendary car, and is rapidly being recognized as the potential best ever. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff described it as competing against “a field of Formula 2 cars with a Formula 1”.
Verstappen, as a generational talent, is crafting his legacy alongside the greats, all while being grateful for his opportunity with Red Bull.
At 25, Verstappen now has 44 F1 wins – a feat only surpassed by four other drivers.
Despite his massive success, Verstappen maintains that “People forget how tough it is to win 12 in a row. Even with the fastest car, it’s easy to make mistakes.”
Christian Horner, Red Bull’s team principal, echoed this sentiment, praising Verstappen for his incredible focus, ambition, and competitive spirit.
The only mishap in Verstappen’s otherwise perfect day was a broken trophy, the result of Lando Norris’s champagne bottle cork-pop trick gone wrong. Despite this, Verstappen remains optimistic, joking about his 44 wins aligning with Hamilton’s car number and his eagerness to move onto 45 wins.
With the Belgian Grand Prix coming up next, where Verstappen, born in Belgium, achieved his most dominant victory last year, the F1 world is eager to see if history will repeat itself.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Max Verstappen and Red Bull dominance
What record did Max Verstappen and Red Bull break at the Hungarian Grand Prix?
Max Verstappen and Red Bull broke a record at the Hungarian Grand Prix by achieving their 12th consecutive victory, surpassing McLaren’s previous record of 11 consecutive wins set in 1988.
What was the winning margin by which Verstappen won the Hungarian Grand Prix?
Max Verstappen won the Hungarian Grand Prix with a massive 34-second lead, marking it as the biggest victory margin of the season.
What records are Verstappen and Red Bull aiming to break in 2023?
In 2023, Verstappen and Red Bull are aiming to break the record for most wins in a year, currently held by Mercedes with 19 victories in 2016. Verstappen is also targeting Sebastian Vettel’s record of nine consecutive wins and his personal record of 15 wins in a single season.
How many career wins does Max Verstappen have after the Hungarian Grand Prix?
After his victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen has a total of 44 career wins in Formula 1.
What significant event happened on the podium after Verstappen’s win at the Hungarian Grand Prix?
A mishap occurred on the podium when Lando Norris’s champagne bottle cork-pop trick went wrong and resulted in breaking Verstappen’s winner’s trophy. Despite this, Verstappen managed to laugh about the incident.
More about Max Verstappen and Red Bull dominance
- Max Verstappen’s F1 Career Stats
- The History of Red Bull Racing
- McLaren’s 1988 Winning Streak
- Mercedes’ Record in 2016
- Sebastian Vettel’s Nine Wins in a Row
4 comments
max’s driving is just insane!! Redbull’s really got a gem on their hands. Those records are gonna be shattered in no time!!
Well, I gotta say, Red Bull’s certainly pulled up their socks this season. Max and the RB19 making quite a pair!
The level of domination here by max is just mind-boggling! The other teams need to up their game ASAP or it’s lights out for them.
Max’s run might be impressive, but Seb’s nine consecutive wins will be a tough record to break. Let’s see if he can do it.