In the races he’s completed, the three-time World Champion has only missed the top three finish six times since the start of the 2020 season, a remarkable feat that has propelled Verstappen up the all-time standings across various metrics – although stats have never been his primary motivation.
Max Verstappen playfully quipped about the “88 missed podiums” after achieving a new milestone. His first Formula 1 podium coincided with his maiden victory, which also marked his debut race as a Red Bull driver at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix. Since then, he has continuously demonstrated his prowess en route to clinching three World Championships.
When confronted with the fact that his triumph in Jeddah marked his 100th podium in just 188 starts, Verstappen jokingly remarked with a smile: “It’s 88 missed podiums!”
After a moment of levity, he continued, “But seriously, I’m very pleased with that achievement. However, I’m not one to dwell on statistics. I’m simply content to have reached the 100 mark. My focus remains on striving for the best possible outcome in each race.”
Verstappen now has the opportunity to equal his record of securing 10 consecutive wins with a victory in Australia next weekend, having already achieved the extraordinary feat of winning 19 out of the last 20 Formula 1 races.
Despite his triumphant history at Albert Park last year, Verstappen remains cautious about Red Bull’s chances at the Australian Grand Prix, especially with the circuit changing.
“Yeah, it’s a very different track again, especially with the new layout and tarmac,” he acknowledged. “We’ll head into the simulator next week to fine-tune our setup before arriving there. We’ll assess our competitiveness throughout the weekend, but it’s hard to predict.”
