Verstappen with two wins in the first three races: how many like him?
Max Verstappen won the Bahrain and Australian Grand Prix: is he destined to win his third consecutive championship? The numbers suggest yes, as many times in the past drivers with similar starts have lifted the trophy at the end of the season. Other times, however, drivers have encountered difficulties during the course of the year and have been left high and dry (right, Charles Leclerc?). Let's scroll through F1 history together in search of numbers and trivia!
A good start...
Verstappen is only the latest driver in F1 history to win (at least) two of the first three races of the season. Before him we find the likes of Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher and the old lion Lewis Hamilton, who managed it four times during the Mercedes dominance period. In total there are 26 years in which a driver has managed to win the championship after such a start. From Alberto Ascari in 1953, through Fangio, Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart, Villeneuve, Hakkinen, to the recent Alonso, Button, Vettel and Rosberg. In the entire history of F1 only three times has a driver managed to win the first five races of the season and then win the championship: Senna in 1991, Nigel Mansell in '92 and Schumacher in 2004.
...is not always half the battle.
Many times, more than one would expect, the driver who won at least two of the first three races of the season failed to bring home the most coveted trophy. Last on this list is Charles Leclerc who, like Verstappen this year, had triumphed in Bahrain and Australia. The Monegasque then, victim of personal and team mistakes, failed to impose himself throughout the year, throwing in the towel in the face of Red Bull's superiority. The young Ferrarista can take solace in the knowledge that he has 12 drivers to keep him company, for a total of 16 seasons in total (in addition to his own). This list includes Alain Prost, who had to surrender to his rivals for three years, but also Ayrton Senna, one of the few to appear in both of these curious lists. Then also the names of Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton, but also Enzo Fittipaldi and Nicki Lauda appear. In short, history is also of the defeated.
And the teams?
This year, in addition to Verstappen's super start, the efforts of the Red Bull team, which between the Dutchman and Sergio Perez won every race, should also be praised. It is by no means every day that a team wins the first three races of the season, quite the contrary. If we look at it, in fact, the team that started with such an en plein has only managed to win the constructors' championship 14 times. We start with the Lotus of Jim Clark and Graham Hill in 1968, then the legendary McLaren-Honda of Prost and Senna in '88, which even managed to win the first 11 races of the season. Finally, we come to the more recent Ferrari of Schumacher and Barrichello in 2000 and 2004, the Renault of Alonso and Fisichella in 2005 and 2006, and finally the Mercedes of Hamilton, Rosberg and Bottas. Will Verstappen and Perez manage to add Red Bull's name to this illustrious list?
Amazing what a good car can do. Let’s face it, Horner and verstappen spent 7 sorry, 8, years saying Hamilton was no good and it was the car. Stands to reason the same applies here. After all, Perez has won a GP - which he wouldn’t have done in any other car would he?? ??
They can't reason something like that MikeyG. Horner and Verstappen would say that though wouldn't they? Just like their sheep fans do, who hang onto their every word like it was gospel. They were being traumatised by losing for so long. Horner especially. Max wasn't doing much when he didn't have a good car. He still spends more time shouting and swearing on the radio than all the other drivers put together. Lewis hasn't always had the best car in his career in F1 and he's still shown that he can push the limits.
Easily would have been 3/3 if not for the mechanical failure in qualifying.
F1 world record for most wins in a season 15 - Max Verstappen The most Lewis Hamilton achieved was 11 in 2019 and despite driving the untouchable Mercedes rocket that year, it was a high error count that prevented adding to that tally.
Less races too. Out of Lewis' massive 103 career wins, he achieved 11 wins in a season 4 times - 2014, 2018,2019 and 2020. Max had a rocket for 3 years now, so this argument can be used against you now. Be wary of it. You're gloating to try and push buttons and when people bite back at you, you don't like it and whinge about it, calling people out. That's pretty weak.
You already know the circumstances as to how Verstappen was gifted his title in 2021. And if Merc had a rocketship in 2021 then Max needed one also to keep up and beat the Merc. Don't delude yourself that it's talent alone. Seriously, all this 'rocketship, rocketship, rocketship' crap is just childish talk for people who cannot express themselves in a better way.
you Lewis fans keep talking about RB's rocketship, just look at the series drive to survive where Lewis gets to hear time after time he can use the overtake button... biased Lewis fans...
Lewis fans are biased towards Lewis?? Well that's breaking news ! LOL.
lewis is looking for a new "slave" after he fired Angela. interested in wiping his back end??
Lewis gets Russell but Verstappen gets Perez / Albon and Mickel Shumaker gets Barichello.
Lewis gets Russel?? as a team mate you mean. on results Lewis didn't get George. he's running behind George.
You must have seen by now how most people and Articles are spelling 'Russell'. Perhaps stick to 'George' if you can't manage that extra 'L'. On results, Lewis is ahead by 20 points so far. Regardless of the fact that George's engine conked out, it is still the reality. Also Lewis beat George in 2022 on qualifying, where speed counts more than anything. Also on number of podiums. George had success in races, which was great. Proving that Merc have a stronger driver pairing that Red Bull and that they allow both drivers equal chances.
it's auto correct but it doesn't matter to me, you know there's only 1 RusselL driving in f1 at the moment.I didn't talk about the strongest pair,I talked about Lewis getting his back end whooped by his team mate. that you are so biased about Lewis that you say that Lewis is faster on Saturdays when real speed counts is ridiculous. points are scored on Sundays.
Proving that when it comes to my responses, you're lost at sea. Not a single shred of evidence to suggest that you have the ability to answer anything from my post. Just going with the BS Lewis narrative which is a very weak cop-out to cover the fact that you are unable to debate anything.
bla, bla, bla, I adore Lewis, no matter what so I don't hear you, bla, bla, bla....
I know points are scored on Sundays. Do you think I wouldn't know that? If Verstappen is still in the sport at 37 (which he clearly won't be), let's see what happens when a younger kid joins him. Let's see if he can keep up. I'll be surprised if Max can keep up with his team-make after he turns 30. George beating Lewis on occasion, isn't the big upset you think it is for Merc fans. When Lewis retires, Merc fans will be relying on George to be fast. Because when Merc make a race winning car, George will be the one taking on and likely beating Verstappen too. Then those like you who only wanty to ridicule Lewis, won't be so positive about Russellll. For me, I'm good with it as it is right now. Two strong Merc drivers just waiting for a competitive car. Either can win. Lewis has his achievements already in the vault. Part of history and nothing takes away what he's done in the sport. So if he never wins another race, it's all ok. I would be more disappointed if George wasn't this good. He will take over when Lewis leaves and Lewis will be leaving the team in good hands. So try another tactic.
conspiracy theory! and what is this different than all those years that Bottas had to let Lewis win!
Ah ok. I get a better understanding on where you get your "facts" now.
Well if this is what you understand, then it just shows how weak your reasoning is. This is a random thing that popped up on YouTube as a suggestion after I'd watch some F1 videos. I thought it would get a reaction here and it did. For facts, I use reality and reliable sources. Your 'facts' are derived from the need to score points back.
good for thought; Mercedes have to tell George to let Lewis pass if he ever wants to win his 8th WC
Yep, I'd agree with that. But it would only be on occasion, and Lewis would still have to put himself in contention first. It's not like they'd do it from race 1 like Red Bull do.
