Max Verstappen Joins Elusive F1 Driver List Along Hamilton, Schumacher & Vettel After Mexican GP

Max Verstappen has been an unstoppable force this season. Even as he joined the sport, there was something that had set the Dutchman apart from the rest. Thus, setting aside a majority of the drivers on the grid, Verstappen joins an exclusive club of drivers after his win at the Mexican GP.

Verstappen’s victory in Mexico was record-breaking in itself. No driver has won the Mexican GP more than twice; Verstappen set the bar with his third victory in the Autodrom.

Formula One F1 – Emilia Romagna Grand Prix – Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola, Italy – Red Bull’s Max Verstappen celebrates after finishing first on the podium with second placed, Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane

However, this also marked Verstappen’s ninth win of the season. Before Verstappen, only five drivers have won nine or more races in a season. In a list with names like Nigel Mansell, Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel, Nico Rosberg, and reigning champion, Lewis Hamilton- Verstappen engraves his name in the history books as number 6.

Read more: Brazilian GP 2021 Weather Forecast: In How Many F1 Sessions Will Rain Fall at Interlagos?

Another interesting commonality is that all these drivers have been champions- barring the Dutch Lion, who has a fighting chance to tick that box off as well with the 2021 season.

Max Verstappen & the 2021 title

Max Verstappen’s 9 victories so far have been crucial in Red Bull‘s fight against Mercedes. With Sergio Perez getting accustomed to his new car, Max Verstappen had carried the team for a majority of the season; just him against two Mercedes. Despite having three DNFs this season as opposed to his rival’s one, it would be foolish to doubt the driver’s capabilities to get the title.

The race in Mexico helped him advance his lead for the third consecutive time. Now 19 points ahead of his rival, Verstappen doesn’t seem like the driver to whom featuring on exclusive lists matters. The unflustered driver he is, he will just take it in his stride.

ZANDVOORT, NETHERLANDS – SEPTEMBER 05: Race winner Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing celebrates with his team after the F1 Grand Prix of The Netherlands at Circuit Zandvoort on September 05, 2021 in Zandvoort, Netherlands. (Photo by Clive Rose – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)

Talking about the thrilling championship, Verstappen remained candidly aloof. “I don’t believe in momentum. So, every single race we have to try and nail the details…things can go wrong very quickly, or can go right. So, it’s going to be really tight and exciting to the end.”

With the heart and the form of a potential champion, will 2021 be Verstappen’s history-making title win? While things look sunny for the driver now, with a season like 2021, the tables can flip at any moment.

Watch this story: Lewis Hamilton: Ranking His F1 World Titles From 2008 to 2020

The post Max Verstappen Joins Elusive F1 Driver List Along Hamilton, Schumacher & Vettel After Mexican GP appeared first on EssentiallySports.