Max Verstappen overcame many challenges during the Dutch Grand Prix, including heavy rain, difficult decisions, passing slower cars, navigating around back markers, and several nerve-wracking Safety Car restarts. But his perseverance and skill paid off, and he won for the ninth time in a row in Formula One, all on his home track.
This has only been done before by Sebastian Vettel a decade ago, also in a title-winning Red Bull car. Many thought it was a record that would never be matched, but such is the dominance of Verstappen and his RB19
What is Sebastian Vettel’s 2013 winning streak record? Explained
Sebastian Vettel was Red Bull’s golden boy back in the 2010s; he debuted with a drive for BMW Sauber in 2007, replacing Robert Kubica. Seb was new to the track and the sport, but he crushed everyone’s expectations by taking the fourth position in his first-ever career qualifying.
Even though he finished in P8, he found himself dropping to P11 due to a mistake. This single race made him the youngest driver to score points back then. Red Bull signed him for their sister team, Torro Rosso, and he crushed it in Italy by winning and becoming the youngest driver to win a Grand Prix. And Vettel received a promotion to Red Bull.
From 2010 through 2013, Vettel won four straight championships with Red Bull, the first of which made him the youngest World Champion in the history of the sport. Sebastian Vettel back then made the record for the longest winning streak in Formula One history, with 9 consecutive victories in the 2013 season. And now shares this record with Max Verstappen.
Seb started his winning streak at the Belgian Grand Prix and won all the way to the Brazilian Grand Prix. This broke the previous record of 8 consecutive victories, which was held by Alberto Ascari (1952-1953) and Michael Schumacher (2004). Vettel’s 2013 season was one of the most dominant in Formula One history. He won 13 races and finished the season with 397 points, which was the most points ever scored in a single season. He also won the Driver’s Championship for the fourth consecutive year.
Max Verstappen ties Sebastian Vettel’s 2013 record streak after Dutch GP win
Verstappen won his third consecutive home race and matched the record for nine victories in a row. Fernando Alonso and Pierre Gasly finished second and third respectively. A red flag was caused due to heavy rain after Zhou Guanyu’s crash at Turn 1, and a five-lap sprint to the finish was necessary.
When asked about the record according to the Wisconsin State Journal, he had this to say, “Nine in a row is something I never even thought about. Very happy with that,” Verstappen said. “I know I have a car which is capable of a lot.”
“I already had goosebumps when they were playing the national anthem before the start. Even with all the bad weather and the rain the fans were still going at it, an incredible atmosphere,” the Dutch driver said. “I’m going to enjoy this. It’s always tough, the pressure is always on to perform.”
What do you think about Max Verstappen breaking Vettel’s record? Do you think his dominance will continue in the next year too? Let us know your views in the comments section down below.
