Max Verstappen’s record-equaling ninth consecutive victory at the Dutch GP provided for an amazing race for the Dutch fans, as were treated to a thrilling race and had their homeboy, Verstappen win. The victory was a fitting end to a historic weekend for Dutch motorsport, but it was not the only historic moment at Zandvoort on Sunday.
The race track also entered the history books with a unique record of its own, taking China’s place for the most successful overtakes on a track in a single F1 race.
Dutch GP creates new record
The Circuit Zandvoort has garnered quite a reputation for its challenging layout, boasting several twists and turns with limited straight stretches, making it a difficult track to overtake on. However, during the 2023 edition, the weather conditions were quite unpredictable, and this made overtaking much more possible. A thorough analysis of the Dutch GP, according to GPfans, it was revealed that there were a remarkable 186 overtaking maneuvers, which is a new record for the track.
The record of the most successful overtakes in a race was held by the Chinese Grand Prix, which boasted an impressive 170 overtakes during the 2016 event. Sadly, the occurrence of the race was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and it was cancelled in 2020 due to health concerns in China. Nevertheless, it has been confirmed that the Chinese Grand Prix will make a comeback to the Formula 1 calendar in 2024, which has sparked excitement amongst racing enthusiasts.
More than a third of all overtaking was carried out in a single lap. The third lap of the Dutch GP, in which there was a lot of rain, counted no less than 63 overtaking actions. This is also a new record, as never before have so many overtaking actions been carried out in one lap. The previous record stood at 45 overtakes.
Max Verstappen potentially to break Sebastian Vettel’s record at Monza
After winning the Dutch Grand Prix, Verstappen was asked about the possibility of winning 10 consecutive races in Monza. He said that he would think about it next week and that he was just focused on enjoying the present. He said that it was always tough to perform under pressure, but that he was happy to win.
Red Bull’s unprecedented string of victories this season was put to the test again at Monza. This is the same track where McLaren’s dream season went off the rails. in 1988. Verstappen notched his 46th career win at the rain-married Dutch GP on Sunday, tying Sebastian Vettel’s record of nine consecutive wins in a season. In the years ahead, the 25-year-old Dutchman is projected to surpass Vettel’s career win total. A win at the upcoming Italian Grand Prix in Monza would be especially fitting, as Vettel secured his first Formula One victory at this track in 2008.
Between 2010 and 2013, Sebastian Vettel achieved a remarkable feat by winning four consecutive championships with Red Bull. He became the youngest World Champion in the sport’s history with his first championship win. In the 2013 season, Vettel also set the record for the longest winning streak in Formula One history with nine consecutive victories. And now Max Verstappen shares this record with him.
What do you think about the current Max-RedBull domination and do you think he will break Seb’s record once and for all? Did you know about the track records? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section down below.
