Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen had to be satisfied with second place at the season opener in Melbourne. As a result, an almost incredible record series of the Red Bull pilot ended, which began in May 2022 and with which he replaced Michael Schumacher in the leaderboard.
A little bit of history was written on Sunday at the Formula 1 start in Melbourne. With his victory, McLaren-Pilot Lando Norris took over the early lead in the driver’s ranking. This is an unusual feeling, especially for Max Verstappen, because the Dutch has always had a subscription to first place in recent years.
Hard to believe, but true: After Melbourne, “Super Max” is no longer the leader in the driver’s ranking for the first time since May 22, 2022. That day, the four -time world champion in Barcelona took over the leadership of Charles Leclerc – and defended this whopping for 1029 days. Record!
Verstappen replaces Schumi in Formula 1 record list
Verstappen had cracked the previous record over the past season. He released record world champion Michael Schumacher in first place. The Kerpener once had been in the driver’s ranking for 896 days in a row and set a record.
Curious: As now at Verstappen, Schumi’s series also ended in Melbourne. At the start of the 2003 season, he had to give up David Coulthard and then had not held the lead in the World Cup ranking for the first time since the US GP in 2000.
Can live with P2
Verstappen should ultimately take note of his ended record series. Although the Red Bull in Down Under was clearly not the fastest car, he saved second place in a chaotic Grand Prix and operated successful damage limitation.
“There are still 18 points more than I got here last year,” he took note of the result.
In the previous year, the Dutch had already left in the 5th round after a technical defect. Since Melbourne was the third race of the calendar and Verstappen won the first two, his failure on the leadership in the World Cup ranking had no effect.