SUMMARY
- Max Verstappen aims to secure a victory at the Chinese Grand Prix to enhance his Formula 1 legacy.
- Despite boasting 57 career wins, Verstappen seeks to conquer the Shanghai circuit, uncharted territory for him.
3x world champion Max Verstappen is all set to race at the Chinese Grand Prix with a single goal in his mind: to carry on his winning streak. He also intends to conquer the Shanghai circuit and etch his name onto a track that has remained unconquered throughout his career. This pursuit of victory comes from mere personal satisfaction as it presents an opportunity to close up on Lewis Hamilton’s record-breaking wins in Formula 1.
Verstappen boasts an impressive 57 career victories, placing him third on the all-time leaderboard. However, a win in China remains the missing piece in his otherwise extraordinary collection of victories. The four-year break from a race in China due to the pandemic adds another layer of intrigue to his return. Verstappen made his last attempt at Shanghai circuit in 2019 which yielded a disappointing P4 finish.
Max Verstappen targets Lewis Hamilton’s record in China
After years of waiting, the Dutchman finally has a shot at reclaiming the Shanghai title held by Hamilton. However, a scrutiny of Verstappen’s past results in China from a historical viewpoint provides an important context to assess his chances in the competition this year. Despite being cut short by a retirement; his 2014 Toro Rosso rookie season revealed the untapped talent that would launch him into the top.
Max Verstappen just had 5 Race Wins last time F1 visited China –
Now he has 57 Wins!!It’s almost a Week before the Chinese GP weekend begins,
Here’s a video Recap of how F1 was in 2019 –What else do you think was different in F1 back in 2019?#Formula1 #F1 #chinesegp pic.twitter.com/2jtcQcEZP5
— Desi Racing Co. (@DesiRacingco) April 12, 2024
Red Bull provided Verstappen with a more competitive car, and his 2017 Chinese Grand Prix debut became a testament to his racing skills. Starting at the 16th spot due to grid penalties pushed Verstappen battle his way through the wet conditions. He ultimately secured a strong third-place finish, a testament to his ability to overcome the obstacles thrown at his way.
The 2018 race proved to be a learning experience for Max Verstappen. His relentless pursuit led to a disappointing fifth-place finish. Back in 2019, the last time the race was held, Hamilton secured his 75th victory while a young Verstappen could only manage a fifth place. Fast forward five years, the Briton remains fixed at 103 wins, but the reigning champion went past his rivals to become a top contender.
Max Verstappen cautions against sprint race in Chinese Grand Prix
The upcoming Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai promises high drama, but not necessarily for the reasons F1 might have hoped. Leading drivers, including Max Verstappen, have expressed some of the major concerns about the tight schedule. With only one free practice session before Friday’s sprint qualifying, teams fear there will be insufficient time for the very important car setup adjustments.
Max Verstappen thinks it was “not the smartest thing” to hold a sprint event at this weekend’s #ChineseGP, which returns after a four-year absence 🇨🇳 pic.twitter.com/54MdnKj41x
— Motorsport.com (@Motorsport) April 15, 2024
According to the 26-year-old driver, “Purely from a driving and performance perspective of the sport, I think it’s not the smartest thing to do. It’s not great to do that because when you have been away from a track for quite a while, I think you never know what you’re going to experience, so it would have been better to have a normal race weekend there.”
Verstappen is not alone in his apprehension. Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz have cited similar concerns, highlighting the logistical challenges teams will face with such a limited practice window. Sainz further questioned whether the potential excitement boost for fans justifies the sacrifice of some valuable time.