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F1 Verstappen’ s drive in the Suzuka rain was Senna-like Update

Posted by AR1 staff October 12, 2022 Max Verstappen’s father Jos has said that his son always has something extra in wet weather conditions. The Red Bull driver sealed his second championship at the rain-marred Japanese GP in Suzuka on Sunday. Talking about the race in his blog on Max Verstappen’s website, Jos said that as soon as there was rain, he felt things were going to turn in his son’s favor, as Max thrives driving in the rain. Jos wrote: “These kind of conditions are Max’s speciality – from an early age, he had something extra in the rain. I spoke to him and called him, and I already sent him a text message. I told him he is the best – but I say that almost every weekend.” Verstappen has joined Germans Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel as the only drivers to win the championship with four races to spare. Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner believes that Max Verstappen has been on “another planet” this year on his way to his second Formula 1 world championship. “To do it with four races remaining, I mean, it’s truly a remarkable performance,” said Horner, when Autosport asked if he could enjoy this success more than last year’s. “And I think Max has been on another planet this year, he has dominated this championship, driven with such maturity, such conviction. “And I think, of course, far less controversial than the last race in Abu Dhabi, which was a titanic battle last year. And the big one outstanding for us is the constructors’. “So after eight years, no other team has come close to winning it, and hopefully, we can bring that home this year as well.” “I think last year was such a heavyweight bout between two titans,” he said. “And I think having achieved that world championship last year, it happened with Sebastian and it’s happened again with Max, it’s just taking that pressure off his shoulders of expectation, and he’s just gone out and smashed it out of the park this year. “He’s in the form of his life, he’s driving incredibly well, the team’s working at an exceptionally high level, the strength and depth that we have throughout the organization is immense. “We had a horrible start, he got quite a lot of wheelspin,” said Horner. “But then he went for the old karting line around the outside. And he was fully committed. “I talked to him in the break and he said, ‘Look, I was going for it.’ Charles gave him enough space and, and he made the move stick. And yeah, it was great racing those first two corners. “There’s a huge amount going on,” said Horner. “I mean, the circuit actually started to dry up. And these tires don’t like the energy, particularly in the first sector, you can do an awful lot of damage to them, and Max just controlled the slip, controlled the temperature, looked after those tires, and in the end, had an awful lot in hand. “We thought we were going to be one point short. So we’re playing with the idea of pitting [to get fastest lap], but it was unsure whether Checo will pass Charles or not. But look, Max Verstappen has been outstanding this year. “After a couple of difficult races early in the season, in the way the team has bounced back, the way he’s driven, he’s dominated this championship. And, again, that was a totally dominant drive today. “What did he do? 25 seconds on Charles in 20-odd laps was a massive performance today. October 9, 2022 Max Verstappen’s performance in the rain this year has been spectacular. Even when his team screwed up in the Singapore GP and he had to drive through the field twice on a wet street circuit, Verstappen passed far more cars than anyone else in very tricky conditions. However, his performance in Suzuka on Sunday, on his way to winning the Japanese GP on a very wet track, was an Ayrton Senna-like driving display that made all the other drivers look like rank amateurs. Biblical weather, and he dropped the field by 27 seconds in 26 laps of racing. The race was shortened to a 2-hour limit and just 28 of 53 laps, but in the 26 laps running under the green, Verstappen gapped Perez and Leclerc by 1-second per lap. Total domination. Just like Senna did in the rain. Senna was deemed the best driver ever in the rain, but Verstappen drove like Senna on Sunday and blew away the field in completely dominating style. Verstappen takes the outside line to grab the lead from Leclerc on the first race start. Leclerc had enjoyed the superior launch, despite the limited grip, to draw alongside polesitter Verstappen and the Ferrari even pulled ahead by half a car length. However, the Dutchman kept his right-foot in it through the first corner to hold the line and decisively retake first place. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) He now has 12 wins in 18 races this season, and is on pace to break the record held by Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher, of 13 wins in a season. Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB18 and Charles Leclerc of Monaco driving the (16) Ferrari F1-75 battle for track position on lap one during the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka International Racing Course on October 09, 2022 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB18 and Charles Leclerc of Monaco side-by-side into turn 1. (Photo by Peter Fox/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool Verstappen inches ahead around the outside At Chicane on lap 1 and race winner Max Verstappen immediately begins to gap Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez. Steven Tee / LAT Images for Pirelli It is beginning to look like Verstappen is a better driver than even Lewis Hamilton, who the British think is the best F1 driver ever with the most wins and the most poles in history. But Verstappen is on pace to destroy Hamilton’s records – all of them. A superstar with the world at his feet. Verstappen just turned 25 years old last weekend and has 32 wins to Hamilton’s 14 at that age. However, Verstappen has another 51 weeks at the age of 25 to pad his record pace of wins at the young age of 25. Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing is presented with a birthday cake for his 25th birthday by Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner prior to practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Singapore at Marina Bay Street Circuit on September 30, 2022 in Singapore, Singapore. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images,) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool Should Verstappen have another dominating year next year like he did this year, he would be on pace to have over 40 wins at age 25 to the 14 Hamilton amassed by 25. That has Hamilton so worried, he is going to stay in F1 another 5 years to win as many races as he can to delay the Dutchman from destroying his legacy. Time will tell how it all will play out, but the next 5 years should be fun to watch as two of the all-time greats go at it tooth and nail. Mark C. reporting for AutoRacing1.com

Hamilton vs Verstappen Cumulative Win Record by Age

Age Hamilton Verstappen 18 0 1 19 0 3 20 0 5 21 0 8 22 4 10 23 9 20 24 11 31 25 14 32 and counting 26 17 TBD 27 21 TBD 28 22 TBD 29 33 TBD 30 43 TBD 31 53 TBD 32 62 TBD 33 73 TBD 34 84 TBD 35 95 TBD 36 103 TBD 37 103 TBD

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F1 Verstappen s drive in the Suzuka rain was Senna like AutoRacing1 com

F1 Verstappen’ s drive in the Suzuka rain was Senna-like Update

Hamilton vs Verstappen Cumulative Win Record by Age

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