Max Verstappen reminisced on his stunning 2023 Formula 1 season and picked one of his 10 Grand Prix victories as the best of the lot following the Belgian Grand Prix.
Verstappen described his Hungarian GP win, which broke the record for most consecutive wins by a constructor, as the ‘perfect day’ but gave a different answer after scorching his way to victory in Spa.
And it could soon change again – victory at his home Dutch GP immediately after the summer break would draw Verstappen level with Sebastian Vettel‘s record of nine consecutive F1 victories.
“It’s difficult to choose, there have been a lot of nice ones, some of it more straightforward,” Verstappen told the media. “I think actually the one actually I really enjoyed was Miami, it’s a tough track to get through the field and we managed that whole race quite well after a tough qualifying.
“So probably for me that was a very enjoyable one. But honestly also Belgium, and Hungary, there are a lot of nice ones.”
The race that started Verstappen‘s potentially record-breaking run, Miami also proved the deciding grand prix in the 2023 championship battle – if you can call it that.
After Sergio Perez took the best victory of his F1 career at the Azerbaijan GP, he and Verstappen headed to Miami knowing whoever won the race would take the lead of the championship.
And Perez looked set to do just that after qualifying, he took pole position while a late red flag meant the Dutchman started ninth after not setting a time in Q3.
However, Verstappen responded with a statement drive in the race to chase down a sluggish Perez and he’s not looked back since.
Red Bull are only getting better
Verstappen also had ominous words for Red Bull‘s rivals after Spa, as they chase victory in every single race of the season – an unprecedented feat.
Red Bull‘s final major upgrade package of the season hit the RB19 in Hungary and Verstappen responded with a winning margin of 33 seconds – similar to his gap to the fastest non-Red Bull at the season-opening Bahrain GP.
“I also think we have improved as a team throughout the first part of the season,” Verstappen added. “From my side, I feel more comfortable in the car and it’s all about little details. So a lot of enjoyable moments. It’s tough to pick one.”
Where is the next F1 race?
F1 will return from its summer break with the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix from Zandvoort on August 25-27, where championship leader Max Verstappen will be racing on home soil.
