In the world of Formula One racing, where speed and strategy collide on some of the most challenging tracks around the globe, a new era is being ushered in by the remarkable Dutch driver, Max Verstappen. As the 2024 season gets underway, Verstappen, the reigning triple world champion, has already secured victories in the first two races, showcasing his dominance and making it almost certain that he will claim his fourth consecutive title.
Throughout the history of this sport, there have been tales of drivers who have exhibited extraordinary skill and consistency, but few can compare to the sheer brilliance of Super Max. Just last year, he shattered the record for the most consecutive wins in Grand Prix races, and now, a mere six months later, he stands on the verge of making history once again. But who else joins this 26-year-old superstar on the list of the three longest winning streaks in Formula One history?
This season, Max Verstappen has established his authority with an iron fist, triumphing in the first two races with commanding leads of 13 and 22 seconds in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, respectively. As a result, popular betting websites like Bet365, offering enticing free bet promotions and Formula One odds, have already designated Verstappen as the overwhelming favorite with odds of 1/8. Even last season, he was heavily favored, but there seemed to be a potential challenge brewing when his teammate Sergio Perez also claimed two victories in the first four Grand Prix races.
However, starting from the fifth race in Miami, Verstappen seized control. From that point until the Italian Grand Prix in September, the Dutch driver secured an astonishing ten consecutive wins, effectively sealing the championship before it even had a chance to fully unfold. In the process, he shattered the record for the most consecutive wins, and now, in just a matter of weeks, he could be on the verge of surpassing his own remarkable achievement.
Before Verstappen’s rise to prominence, it was the former Red Bull team leader, Sebastian Vettel, who epitomized the pinnacle of success in Formula One. In the latter half of the 2013 season, the German maestro embarked on a mesmerizing run of nine consecutive victories. Heading into the Belgian Grand Prix that year, Vettel faced competition from three drivers – Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso, and Lewis Hamilton – all with a chance to catch up. However, by the conclusion of the Brazilian Grand Prix, nine races later, Vettel had emerged victorious in every single one, securing his fourth consecutive championship in the process.
Unfortunately, Vettel’s dominance came to an abrupt halt at the beginning of the 2014 season, as a series of regulatory changes propelled Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton to the forefront of the sport. Nevertheless, Vettel’s stranglehold on Formula One remains etched in the memories of fans and competitors alike.
Last season, Carlos Sainz put an end to Verstappen’s winning streak with a triumph in Singapore. However, just two weeks later, Verstappen returned to the top step of the podium in Japan, and he hasn’t experienced defeat since. He went on to win seven consecutive races, securing his status as a triple world champion and finishing with more than double the points of the second-place finisher, Sergio Perez. Continuing his winning streak, Verstappen has now triumphed in the first two races of the 2024 season, extending his streak to nine. If he manages to win in Australia and Japan – with the latter being the fourth race on this year’s calendar instead of the 16th as it was last year – he will have broken his own record in less than a year since setting it.