The flying Dutchman Max Verstappen is officially the greatest ever Formula One driver, after winning his 10th straight race at Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza and breaking the previous record of 9 wins in a row.
He has also won 12 of 14 this season, is on track to break his own record of 16 wins in a season, and is only 90 points away from breaking his own record season total of 454 points set last year.
Oh – and he’s won 21 of the last 25 Grand Prix.
Red Bull Racing maintained their perfect team record of 14 wins from all 14 Grand Prix so far this year, became the first racing team to win 15 Grand Prix consecutively, and could well finish the year breaking the record for most wins by a constructor in a season (19). Even an unprecedented undefeated season is looking more and more likely.
The team has won 24 of the last 25 races and 31 of the last 35.
Max Verstappen. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
You get the picture. The best driver ever in the best car. His Mexican teammate Sergio Perez, despite driving exactly the same car, has not been able to match Verstappen’s exploits. He finished 2nd in this race, but has not been anywhere near as dominant as Verstappen, winning only two races and finishing 2nd behind Verstappen only four times. He has even finished as low as 16th.
There are rumours Australia’s Daniel Ricciardo may return to Red Bull as Perez’s replacement next season from Red Bull’s development team Alpha Tauri.
Ricciardo did not race at Monza after breaking his wrist and requiring surgery last weekend at the Dutch Grand Prix in a collision during practice with compatriot Oscar Piastri. He may well be out for a month.
New Zealand F1 rookie Liam Lawson stepped into Ricciardo’s car and finished an impressive 12th on debut. He followed this up with 11th in Sunday’s race at Monza. If he can continue with results like those he will drive himself into a permanent F1 seat.
MacLaren’s Aussie Oscar Piastri continued his impressive first season in F1 by qualifying 7th, but unfortunately was involved in three incidents which cost him places. One with his English teammate Lando Norris, where Norris had been called to pit a lap earlier, and after Piastri’s pit stop Norris came out slightly in front (the ‘undercut’). Piastri tried to take back the position, there was wheel-to-wheel contact and both were lucky to escape without damage.
The second incident was with Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes which was Hamilton’s fault. Hamilton received a 5 second time penalty and apologised to Piastri after the race. Piastri was also penalised 5 seconds for running over a chicane in a botched overtaking attempt on Lawson and refusing to give the position back as he was required to.
As a result of these three incidents Piastri finished out of the points in a disappointing 12th place, probably his worst race of the season. Apart from this race, he has had a great rookie season thus far, impressing pundits and fans alike with how quickly he has adapted, matched far more experienced drivers, and even on occasion outdriven them.
Third placed Carlos Sainz of Spain and Ferrari takes the chequered flag ahead of 4th placed Charles Leclerc. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Ferrari’s Spaniard and Monagesque drivers Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc finished 3rd and 4th at their team’s home Grand Prix, a racetrack with an average speed of more than 250km/h, which perhaps reduced the Ferrari’s performance deficit slightly with Red Bull.
Sainz qualified in pole position and led the race for the first 15 laps before Verstappen and then later Perez overtook him. Sainz and Leclerc fought hard right up until the checkered flag but Sainz held on for his first podium finish this season and just Ferrari’s fourth podium finish this year, making thousands of Ferrari fans in the Monza stands and around the world very happy.
The records have tumbled and will probably continue to as this season rolls on, such is the dominance of the newly crowned GOAT of Formula One racing, at just the tender age of 25 years old. We’re also witnessing the most dominant racing team in history break all kinds of records. If Red Bull go undefeated for the whole year that would be one of the greatest achievements not just in motor racing, but in all sports. So strap in and enjoy the ride!
Blink
Roar Rookie
If Verstappen wasn't there Red Bull don't win, if Hamilton wasn't at Mercedes after Rosberg, Mercedes don't always win either. The superior driver is the difference. The dominant car is the driver, and has been since Williams demonstrated that it wasn't just the car. Look at them now. Their philosophy was , we build the best car the best drivers will come here cheaply. Look at them now. Thankfully finally under new leadership.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
My point was that Verstappen needs to maintain his excellence over multiple years to be in consideration of the GOAT title.
Blink
Roar Rookie
You need to check his driving style. Verstappen is different. He wins on the computer to. He has an astonishing number of tricks, probably because he practices every day.
Blink
Roar Rookie
I have no doubt that Verstappen is the greatest. His detractors love the dominant car thing but he is the only guy that wins. As Hamilton was at Mercedes until Rosberg got him. There seems to be very little F1 knowledge in Australia. Hamilton hates losing so wants to get back on top as soon as the team will start listening to him again. But the team may be thinking it is George Russell time. Looking forward to Los Vegas.
KenW
Roar Rookie
Great driver in great form driving a great car. But greatest ever? I think he's got a fair bit to go for that claim. The car is so much better than the field that he's only racing Perez (and clearly dominating there). The win streak is still mightily impressive regardless, no matter whether he gets pipped in qualifying, or what happens with the weather or the effects of safety cars on strategy - he finds his way to the front and rips away.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
He will soon overtake... Assuming he maintains his form. You can call him the GOAT once that happens.
Tufanooo
Roar Rookie
It is the greatest car ever. Only a freak reliability issue will cost it victory. It is so damn quick, they will probably be able to execute some overtakes in Singapore.
Tufanooo
Roar Rookie
I think that is the issue. The measure of a drivers ability is not by how often they win in an utterly dominant car, but by how often they stay in the hunt when the car is either on parity with others or inferior. Schumacher running Alonso all the way in 2006 for example. Or winning in 1994 in a car that probably wasn't as quick as the Williams (but more reliable). Verstappen hasn't stopped Hamilton from winning any races - that is a ridiculous comment. A combination of a seriously dominant RB18 + Mercedes lemon in 2022 stopped Hamilton. All that can be established beyond any doubt is that Verstappen is a much better driver then Perez.
Kitwally
Roar Rookie
He has only won two championships that is true. But he is only 25 and he has stopped Hamilton (7 championships) from winning any races over 2022 and so far in 2023. Yes, some or a large part of that comes from the car, but you could also argue that Hamilton’s Mercedes was the dominant car for most (if not all), of his championship wins.
Kitwally
Roar Rookie
The dominance of the RB19 suggests that it is perhaps the greatest car ever. With Honda stopping their engine partnership at the end of 2025 and Ford taking over in 2026, perhaps this dominance will end. Ford were dominant in the 60s and 70s, so maybe they will be again. They were last in F1 in 2004, which is quite a long time ago!
Kitwally
Roar Rookie
And he could be again in 2024…….
Kitwally
Roar Rookie
It’s true he doesn’t have as many Championships as some other legends of the sport, but he is also only 25 years old. His win percentage at 26.55% is higher than legends such as Sterling Moss (24.24%), Ayrton Senna (25.47%), and Alain Prost (25.63%). This will probably climb higher as he gains more experience and with the dominance of the Red Bull car. He will soon overtake Jackie Stewart, Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton and Jim Clark’s win percentages. I will concede that he may never overtake Fangio’s 47.06% winning percentage, but there were less teams/drivers, and less races in the 1950s. Fangio’s record is still a fantastic achievement and many believe he is the GOAT.
mrl
Roar Rookie
Could (possibly) have been Daniel Ricciardo chalking up these wins.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
Could Verstappen become the greatest driver of all time? Quite possibly. Is he deserving of that title yet? No. If using consecutive wins is the parameter for defying the greatest, the logical conclusion would be that Vettel was the second greatest driver of all time, and I don't think too many people would hold that opinion.
Tufanooo
Roar Rookie
Greatest car ever, not greatest driver. Still a ways to go
gooch
Roar Rookie
How many championships has he won ?