F1 News
Verstappen on course to break century-old record after impressive run
- Toby McLuskie
Max Verstappen has been incredibly dominant in Formula 1 in recent races. The Dutchman now stands at four consecutive wins, with Verstappen also starting from pole position in the last three victories. Meanwhile, the Red Bull Racing driver has also led no less than 224 consecutive laps and if that continues for a while, the two-time world champion could break an incredibly old record.
Verstappen on record hunt
In the Grands Prix of Monaco, Spain and Canada, Verstappen recorded a so-called lights-to-flag victory. This means the Dutchman started from first position and then did not relinquish that first position for the entire race, thus winning the race. In Miami, Verstappen overtook his teammate Sergio Perez with ten laps to go, meaning the Dutchman has led all laps in Formula 1 since that overtake.
Verstappen has now led Formula 1 a total of 224 back-to-back laps, ten laps in Miami, 78 in Monaco, 66 in Barcelona and 70 laps last Sunday in Montreal. This now puts the Red Bull driver fifth in this 'standings', but his run is still ongoing. Verstappen is behind Nigel Mansell (235), Ayrton Senna (237), again Senna (264) and Alberto Ascari is on top with 304 laps consecutively in the lead.
Can Verstappen break Ascari's record?
Ascari set his impressive run between the races in Belgium and the Netherlands in 1952, which at the time were the third and seventh races in the championship respectively. Verstappen therefore needs to lead 81 more laps to break the Italian's record. To officially break this record, the Dutchman will have to wait until the weekend at Silverstone, but this coming Grand Prix weekend, Verstappen will already have the chance to break the record unofficially, because of the sprint race scheduled.
The circuit in Austria has a relatively short track, resulting in a lot of laps at the Red Bull Ring, namely 71. The scenario of Verstappen scoring a lights-to-flag victory at the Red Bull Ring too seems realistic given Red Bull's dominance. However, the circuit is particularly short and that means the margins between the teams will be smaller anyway, which may make it a bit more difficult for the Dutchman.
However, the Dutchman has already won twice at Spielberg in 2021. So to officially break the record, the Red Bull driver will have to lead from start to finish in Austria on Sunday, but will also have to capture pole in Britain and lead the first 10 laps there