Formula 1 is a sport that has always been characterized by the dominance of a few. Although that is now surprising, it is commonplace. The superiority of Mercedes is the most recent, with seven consecutive world cups. However, at the end of the eighties the one in charge was the team McLaren. For his part, Ferrari also had its golden age with Michael Schumacher and his 5 championships. Without forgetting the team itself Red Bull who imposed his mandate between 2010 and 2014 and now das has returned with a key.
nine out of nine. Red Bull continues to increase the number of victories this season. Now best start of the centuryahead of Mercedes which adds, consecutively, eight of eight wins in 2016the year of the battle between Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton. So, the World Cup ended with 19 victories out of 21 possible. Seven years later, the RB19’s lead is overwhelming despite improvements to the car from rivals, especially in the hands of Max Verstappen. Could they reach 22 of 22?
The path is being correct, of course. They have no rival. Nothing and no one has managed to reach them, much less make things complicated. The distance that separates them from the rest is always wide enough, many times even opening the possibility of being able to enter the pitlane on the last lap, change the tires and go for the fastest lap, as happened in the Austrian GP. His lowest margin was at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve where Fernando Alonso saw the checkered flag 9.5 seconds behind.
Max Verstappen and Checo Prez during the podium of the Austrian GP
Red Bull goes for everything. He does not want to lose even that point that is awarded for being the one who manages to cover the track in the shortest possible time. The characteristics of the single-seater allow its pilots to have a good rhythm and that is reflected in the data. During the nine races that have been held so far, the team has led 95.34% of the laps. The person responsible for a large part of that percentage is max verstappen. the two-time champion He has commanded in 419 lapswhile Czech Prez has done it in 113.
Red Bull and Max Verstappen: an unstoppable duo
The Dutchman breaks all the records that come his way. In it Canadian GP equaled the record of 41 wins for Ayrton Senna, after the weekend in Spielberg, he can already say that he has surpassed him. In 2021 he got the highest number of podiums in a season, thanks to his 10 wins and another eight second places. Last year he went up 14 times on the top of the podium, being the only rider to have achieved it in a single season.
One could continue listing feats, but it would be an endless number of recognitions. Verstappen is an unusual driverwith great potential and knows how to take advantage of it in such a way that his car and he are one. In each circuit he goes to the limit, he knows that he is the fastest, but that does not mean he risks less. He puts everything he has on the track and that makes very few have been able to snatch the position at some point.
so far this season The Red Bull man has managed to finish first on seven occasions and second on two other occasions. Improve the data you had obtained Sebastian Vettel in 2011, when he accumulated six wins and three second places in the first nine races. Ace, the two-time champion is running to be the driver with the best records within the team. Although he will have to match the four World Cups won by the German.
Max Verstappen during the podium ceremony at the Austrian GP
Two steps away from the historical record
The team has scored in the Austrian GP the best season start of this 21st century. However, in the history of Formula 1 another team keeps that record a little further. Is about McLaren. in 1988 Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost accumulated 11 victories in 11 races, but a bump got in his way. Prost blew his engine for the first time this year and Senna collided with Schlesser (Williams) by lapping him almost on the last lap.
Many say that what happened was a miracle that Enzo Ferrari did from heavenwho died a month earlier, who flew over Monza to prevent the English from sweeping hallowed ground. Started in the gravel, Ayrton called for help from some stick-stiff marshals who were looking the other way. Ferrari won in tears even from the prompter and the record stayed at 15 wins out of 16 races, but not consecutively.
Best winning percentages per season
1 McLaren 1988 15 / 16 93.75%
2 Mercedes 2016 19 / 21 90.48%
3 Ferrari 2002 15 / 17 88.24%
4 Mercedes 2014 16 / 19 84.21%
5 Mercedes 2015 16 / 19 84.21%
6 Ferrari 2004 15 / 18 83.33%
7 Red Bull 2022 17 / 22 77.27%
8 Mercedes 2020 13 / 17 76.47%
McLaren won 93.75% of the races in 1988, the best percentage achieved so far. Will Red Bull be able to beat him? The difficulty in doing so has increased, because the number of Grand Prix that take place throughout the season has been increasing. As of now, it seems that no other team is going to face those from Austria, It seems that everything will depend on whether they make a mistake or suffer a technical failure.
