Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has opened up on the Formula 1 victories that he has found the most satisfying during his illustrious spell in the sport.
Verstappen has elevated himself into the conversation of all-time F1 greats in what has been a glittering career to date.
Last season saw the Dutchman’s legacy grow further as he achieved a fourth straight Drivers’ title, took his podium tally to 112, secured his 40th pole position and his 63rd race victory.
The final accolade puts Verstappen third all-time in F1 race victories, behind only Lewis Hamilton (105) and Michael Schumacher (91).
As a result, Verstappen finds it hard to define a favourite race victory, but he tried his best when probed on the matter during a Q&A session for the sim-racing outfit he competes with: Team Redline.
“It’s hard to choose,” he admitted.
“First of all, I don’t remember all of them, but I think my first race win [Spain, 2016] was very emotional.
“Then at the same time, winning your first championship [Abu Dhabi, 2021]. These kinds of milestones are incredibly important, so they have to be one of your favourite races.”
Verstappen enjoys dominant victories
Beyond his maiden race victory and the win that secured his first title, Verstappen reflected on the most satisfying types of race victories, whereby he’s able to blow the competition away.
“But then at the same time, winning a race by 30 seconds, which I think [he achieved] in Hungary, maybe once in Austria as well,” he pondered.
“When everything is just going really well, the whole weekend, that can also be really enjoyable.”
Verstappen completed a lights-to-flag victory at the Red Bull Ring in Austria during the 2021 Styrian GP, with title rival Lewis Hamilton having no answer for him on the day and retreating to 35 seconds back after a late pit stop in a successful attempt to claim the bonus point for fastest lap.
Two years later at the Hungaroring, amid a record-busting season with the dominant Red Bull RB19, Verstappen was once again untouchable, leading McLaren’s Lando Norris by 33 seconds.
Interlagos 2024 was ‘stressful’
For many, one of Verstappen’s most recent victories ranks among his greatest.
The race in question is of course the 2024 Sao Paulo GP where a frustrated Verstappen resigned to 17th on the grid and burst through the field, aided by a free pit stop under red flag conditions (although he was already up to second) to end a 10-round victory drought in the most stunning of ways.
Verstappen acknowledged the incredible sensation upon clinching the victory but admitted the race itself was far from enjoyable when it was ongoing.
“Of course, we cannot forget Brazil, because that was just incredibly important at that stage of the season,” he said.
“But that was very stressful in the wet and coming from the back.
“Of course, it’s enjoyable afterwards, but at the time, when you’re driving, it’s not that enjoyable because it’s quite stressful.”
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