Having clinched his second F1 world title at Suzuka earlier this month, Verstappen continued his dominant marketing campaign by scoring his 14th win of the 12 months in Sunday’s Mexican Grand Prix.
It meant Verstappen surpassed the prevailing report collectively held by Michael Schumacher from 2004 and Sebastian Vettel from 2013, in addition to claiming the report for the variety of factors scored in a single season with two races nonetheless remaining.
Following his victory on the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Verstappen paid tribute to his Purple Bull crew for “one other nice race” after choosing up its sixteenth win of the 12 months and ninth in a row.
“It is simply an unbelievable season for us as a crew,” mentioned Verstappen. “I by no means thought I’d have the ability to win 14 races in a 12 months. However yeah, in fact, I’m extremely proud.”
The season win report has been inside Verstappen’s sightlines for a while, however the Dutchman commonly downplayed the significance of the report and the opportunity of getting there.
Upon matching the report at the USA Grand Prix, Verstappen famous the distinction in eras and the way F1 seasons now have extra races. Schumacher’s 13-race haul got here in an 18-race season, whereas Vettel matched that quantity over 19 races in 2013.
Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, and Ross Brawn, Technical Director, after his thirteenth win of 2004 in Japan
Photograph by: Sutton Photographs
Requested by Motorsport.com after the race in Mexico if his determination to downplay it was a tactic to keep away from shedding focus, Verstappen mentioned he was not sure however that he was “by no means actually focused on stats.”
“I simply reside within the second,” Verstappen mentioned. “I simply attempt to, in fact, do the perfect I can each single weekend. I attempt to win the races and that, for me, is an important. Each single weekend once I go residence, and I can say to myself that I maximised or near that I am comfortable.
“However in fact, quite a bit in System 1 is dependent upon your entire bundle , proper? And we’re having an important bundle and I am simply having fun with the second.
“I’m not that focused on conserving in contact with each stat. However in fact, it’s an incredible season and naturally I am very proud of successful so many races.”
Vettel insisted he has no regrets about shedding the report that he shared with shut good friend and mentor Schumacher.
“No, I imply each time it’s kind of completely different,” he mentioned. “I believe it is nice for the crew. I nonetheless know some folks there, so I am actually comfortable for them and for Max.
“Properly completed. I believe he is had a hell of a season, so hopefully he will get 16 on the finish of the 12 months! Every little thing else shall be a disappointment, no?”
The Aston Martin driver agreed that sustaining such a degree of success isn’t as simple as it’d look from the surface.
“No, it is not,” he mentioned. “However clearly I believe they’d a momentum from final 12 months, the automotive this 12 months is unbelievable. They gained races although they have been heavier than all people else.
“I believe by now they’ve in all probability bought the load out. So the automotive is there, however Max is doing an incredible job as properly.”