Verstappen's birthday! A recap of all his victories up to 2020
F1 News
- GPblog.com
Max Verstappen celebrates his 24th birthday today. The Dutchman has been active in Formula 1 since he was 17 years old, and in that time he has already scored 17 victories. As a tribute, we take a look back at all the moments that Verstappen was on the highest spot of the podium. Starting with the races up to the current season.
Spanish Grand Prix, 2016
May 15, 2016 will still be fresh in many people's minds. Whether it was due to the repeated failures of Daniil Kvyat or the fact that Red Bull Racing knew they had gold on their hands with Verstappen, or a combination of the two, the team decided to put the then 18 year old and 226 day old Dutchman in the Red Bull alongside Ricciardo. After a crash between the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, a nerve-wracking race ensued, where Verstappen managed to keep Raikkonen's Ferrari behind him and he became the youngest Grand Prix winner ever, as well as the first Dutchman to ever win a race.
Malaysian Grand Prix, 2017
The second win was a while in coming, but after a disastrous race weekend in Singapore, where Max crashed into a Ferrari sandwich at the start, he put it right in Malaysia. Verstappen had a birthday during this race weekend, but he was also ill, and the tropical climate around Kuala Lumpur won't have helped, but nevertheless, the Red Bull Racing driver managed to overtake Lewis Hamilton under his own steam early in the race, only to disappear on the horizon.
Mexico Grand Prix, 2017
The third victory was not as long in coming. Mexico proved to be a circuit where Verstappen was well up to speed. He started second but got his elbows out at turn one. Known as one of the more boring races Max won, as he was able to pull away without pressure at the front, he took his third win here, which was rightly overshadowed by Hamilton seizing his world title.
Austrian Grand Prix, 2018
Verstappen did good business in Austria. Under the watchful eye of Red Bull director Dietrich Mateschitz, he took the win at Red Bull Racing's home circuit, which is not called the Red Bull Ring for nothing. He also set another record, becoming the first Red Bull Racing driver to win at the Red Bull Ring. Verstappen needed retirements from Hamilton and Bottas, both Mercedes, to get the win.
Mexico Grand Prix, 2018
As mentioned earlier, the Mexico circuit proved to suit Verstappen very well, as he managed to win the race in 2018 as well. Heavily taunted after teammate Daniel Ricciardo managed to beat him to pole on Saturday, preventing Max from becoming the youngest driver ever on pole. Verstappen turned this around on Sunday.
Austrian Grand Prix, 2019
Like Mexico, the Red Bull Ring is another circuit that seems to suit the Dutchman, as he managed to win it in 2019 as well. After a poor start, after which he fell far back, Verstappen put in one of his well-known vicious overtakes, which brought him to the tail of Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari towards the end of the race. After an unsuccessful attempt, Verstappen decided to throw his car in a little rougher the second time around, which will likely earn him no Birthday cards from Charles Leclerc, but a Grand Prix victory.
German Grand Prix, 2019
The 2017 German Grand Prix was a crazy rain race, full of safety cars, drama and entertainment. Even the greatest and most talented drivers failed to keep the car on the track. Verstappen often excels in these kinds of conditions, and he did so at Hockenheim as well. Where Nico Hulkenberg threw away his first podium and Charles Leclerc also parked his Ferrari in the wall, Verstappen managed, apart from a single 360, to get his car across the finish line in one piece and first.
Brazilian Grand Prix, 2019
Verstappen had a love-hate relationship with Interlagos ever since he entered Formula 1. Most of the time, the Dutchman comes out well there. A year earlier, he was well on his way but was hit off the track by backmarker Ocon. In 2019, however, Verstappen threw off all shyness and, partly due to a brilliant overtaking move on Hamilton, managed to secure the Brazilian silverware.
70th Anniversary Grand Prix, 2020
Although not an official British Grand Prix victory (the race was booked as the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix), Verstappen managed to win at Silverstone, Lewis Hamilton's home circuit. The Mercedes was the best car in 2020 by a wide margin, so the Dutchman couldn't compete for the championship.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, 2020
2020, as mentioned earlier, wasn't a year where Verstappen really played a role in the world title fight, but the victory at the final race in Abu Dhabi was one that showed Mercedes that things were going to get a lot easier in 2021 than the team had been used to since the advent of the hybrid era. It was victory number 10 for the Dutchman, who in an otherwise pretty dull race could at least start his new season with a good feeling.