Author: Chandra Moulee Das
Max Verstappen achieved a remarkable feat at the Italian Grand Prix, setting a new Formula 1 record by securing his 10th consecutive victory and surpassing the previous record of nine in a row, which was held by Sebastian Vettel a decade ago. This triumph represents an unprecedented feat in the history of Formula 1, as no driver has ever won so many races in a row in a single season.
If at first you don’t succeed…
Sergio Perez’s persistence eventually paid off in his tussle with George Russell #ItalianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/8bDhcdmddG
– Formula 1 (@F1) September 4, 2023
Verstappen’s exceptional performance during the race saw him take the lead from Carlos Sainz on lap 15, and from then on he faced no significant challenges on the way to securing his historic 10th win in a row. Sergio Perez secured second position, with Sainz finishing third after engaging in a thrilling battle with his teammate Charles Leclerc for the final podium place. George Russell took fifth place, while Lewis Hamilton finished sixth; both Mercedes drivers received time penalties of five seconds during the race, which, however, did not alter their final rankings.
Max: Sets dominant, all-time Formula 1 record
Also Max: “Not too bad!” 😅Another record to add to the @Max33Verstappen collection, with victory in Monza#ItalianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/rZLikpbMfK
– Formula 1 (@F1) September 3, 2023
Verstappen’s victory at Monza marked his 12th win of the season and increased the likelihood of Red Bull becoming the first Formula 1 team to have a perfect season, winning every race on the calendar. Although McLaren came close to achieving this feat in 1988, winning all but one of the 16 races, the dominance displayed by Red Bull this season suggests that no other team has a chance of challenging their supremacy over the course of the 23-race season.
🇧🇷 Vamo Drugo 💪
Nice to see the 2022 @Formula2 champion and @AstonMartinF1 driver out on track for FP1 👏#ItalianGP #F1 @FelipeDrugovich pic.twitter.com/hCE8NtN6wm
– Formula 1 (@F1) September 1, 2023
Interestingly, Brazilian driver Felipe Drugovich made his debut in a Formula 1 car during the Monza Grand Prix, marking a significant milestone in his career. The Formula 2 winner (2022) has been hired by the Aston Martin team as a reserve driver. He took the chance to replace Lance Stroll during the first free practice session of the weekend. Drugovich took to the track using only medium tires, recording a time of 1:24:140 and securing 18th place.
Max Verstappen now leads the drivers’ championship by an impressive margin of 145 points. His teammate Sergio Perez, who has also won this season, is in second place. The 25-year-old star has amassed a total of 47 race wins and ranks fifth on the all-time list and has the opportunity to extend his record at the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix, scheduled for September 17.