Max Verstappen: Race wins are ‘rookie numbers’ compared to Lewis Hamilton

AUSTIN, Texas – After scoring his 50th Formula One victory, Max Verstappen joked that his career victories still look like “rookie numbers” compared to his old rival Lewis Hamilton.

Verstappen, who has already completed his third championship, scored a half-century in Austin by beating Hamilton on track, although the Mercedes driver was later disqualified from second place for a technical infringement.

The Red Bull driver is still less than half the record 103 victories recorded by Hamilton, who Verstappen controversially denied an unprecedented eighth championship at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Speaking about victory number 50 in Austin, Verstappen said: “Of course it’s a good number, still a rookie number compared to Lewis, but it’s definitely a good number. I’m very happy with it, very proud. Let’s try.” to win a few more.

The Dutchman is one win away from placing fourth with Alain Prost on the all-time winners list and he could surpass Sebastian Vettel’s 53 if he wins all the remaining 2023 races.

It has been a remarkable season for Verstappen, who scored a record 10 consecutive victories between the Miami Grand Prix in May and the Italian Grand Prix in September.

By winning at the Circuit of the Americas, he equaled his own record of 15 victories in a single season.

He has races in Mexico, Brazil, Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi to extend that mark by at least one more.