The Abu Dhabi GP came to an end and so did the 2023 season where Max Verstappen proved that he is in a league of his own and showcased his brilliance by winning 19 races in one season. This will be one of the first times that a driver has won so many races in a single season let alone the Dutchman breaking his very own record of 15 race wins in 2022.
However, he achieved a lot more this season alone, and with 16 records broken by him single-handedly, the driver has achieved another huge record that many believe can never be topped. It is only fair to assume that it will take a long time for someone to come even close as we witness one of the most dominant seasons in Formula 1’s history.
While he has achieved the most wins, podium, pole positions, points, and more, the driver continues to hold yet another record which will go down not only in history but will take years and years to break.
Max Verstappen is one of the only drivers in Formula One history to have led 1003 out of 1325 laps in a single season. The three-time champion became the only driver to have the highest percentage of laps led with 75% and Jim Clark followed him with 71% recorded in 1963.
He’s actually done it man, I can’t believe it. This is a record that I think will never be topped. 1000 laps lead in a single season. pic.twitter.com/rPRJlkRb6S
— Enzo (@Aperta) November 26, 2023
Max Verstappen is in a completely different league that does not even include Sir Lewis Hamilton who holds the eighth position with 59% laps led in a single season. While many underestimated the Dutchman and arguments of “who is the better driver?” kept popping up it seems that the three-time champion took it upon himself to prove he is and will be staying as one of the best drivers in F1 for a long time.
Max Verstappen left Helmut Marko weeping after Abu Dhabi GP
While Max Verstappen has been insanely dominant, he could not have done it without his Red Bull team. Although his brilliance was one of the many things that got the team so far, Red Bull’s insane work to put out one of the best cars on the tracks brought them 15 consecutive wins in a single season.
The team also managed to secure the constructor Champion with 860 points in a single season and Mercedes as a runner-up with 409 points. With this brilliant performance and the utter dominance in the Formula 1 sport, while also putting their name in front of one of the most dominant seasons in Formula 1 history, Max Verstappen made Helmut Marko emotional.
Helmet Marco talked about this season after the Abu Dhabi GP. He said, “We never hoped for this and we could never have dreamt of it. And this season has surpassed everything we have achieved so far. And I must repeat that it is a pity that Mateschitz is no longer able to witness this triumph incredible performance of the team and the drivers, especially the performance of Max Verstappen.”
Helmut Marko was holding back tears after the Abu Dhabi GP:
“We never hoped for this and we could never have dreamed of this. And this season has surpassed everything we’ve achieved so far. And I must repeat that it is a pity that Mateschitz is no longer able to witness this…
— RBR Daily (@RBR_Daily) November 26, 2023
With tears of joy and pride in his driver’s performance and the ultimate result for the team, Helmut Marko signed off the 2023 season with the highest of praises for the Dutchman and Sergio Perez who also helped Red Bull bring their dream to life with a 1-2 in the championship standings.