Verstappen could break 71-year-old F1 record in Brazil GP

Max Verstappen has already broken several records in the 2023 Formula 1 season, but he can add another impressive record to his list at the Grand Prix weekend in Brazil.

In Mexico, he already sharpened his record of most wins in a season by securing his 16th F1 victory of the season. That record too can be extended to 17 in Sao Paulo and to a maximum of 19 after the final race in Abu Dhabi.

Verstappen en route to 71-year-old F1 record

One statistic that - given the drastically increased number of races in a season - may say more about performance than the number of wins is the win percentage in a season. That record has stood since 1952 in the name of Alberto Ascari, who won 75% of races. If Verstappen doesn't win another race, he will have won 72% of races in 2023. He has currently won 16/19 races. With victory number 17, the worst % that Verstappen can get would be 77% when the chequered flag falls in Abu Dhabi. Verstappen passed Michael Schumacher in the list, who managed to win 72.22% of races in 2004.

A record not yet officially in his name, but inevitable, is one currently still held by Michael Schumacher. The former Ferrari driver led the F1 championship 37 races in a row between 2000 and 2002. Verstappen will also reach that number at Interlagos. Since the world title is already secure for the Dutchman, he will surpass the seven-time world champion and have led the World Championship 39 races in a row by the end of the season.

Elsewhere

Lando Norris could get an unwanted record this weekend. If he finishes in the top three and doesn't win, the British driver will have 13 podiums without victory in Formula 1. That would equal Nick Heidfeld's record. And if a British driver scores a point in the Brazilian Grand Prix, that will mean 114 consecutive points finishes for British drivers. This would move the current streak to second on the all-time list, behind Germany between 2008 and 2017.