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Mexico (AFP) – Dutchman Max Verstappen, crowned world champion for the second consecutive year, seeks to set the record for the number of victories in a season, beating his Red Bull teammate and landowner Sergio Perez in the Mexican Grand Prix, the twentieth stage of the Formula 1 World Championship.
Verstappen, 25, has taken 13 wins so far this season, the last of which was in the United States Grand Prix last Sunday, just hours after the death of Red Bull Energy Drinks founder Dietrich Mateschitz, who passed away last Saturday at age of 78 after a struggle with the disease.
The Dutchman, winner of the world title in the eighteenth round in Japan, equaled the record set by the German Michael Schumacher (13 races out of 18 with Ferrari in 2004) and Sebastian Vettel (13 out of 19 with Red Bull in particular in 2013) .
However, Schumi is, at the moment, still in the lead with a higher percentage of victories in a single season, with 18 races in 2004 compared to 19 in 2013 and 22 this year. So we will have to do the calculations at the end of the season to see who “really” owns the record.
“We will continue to attack”.
Verstappen is well aware that another win, especially at the expense of teammate Peres in his stronghold, will set a new record, as he is the only driver to win three times in Mexico (2017, 2018 and 2021) and the best absolute track time (in 2019 qualifying).
The Dutchman, who said he “loves Mexican food, especially tacos,” said he hoped to win again on Sunday.
“We have the constructors ‘and drivers’ championships, but we are still here to win and we will continue to attack,” he warned.
The driver, who thanks to his victories managed to convert his title from “Mad Max” to “Super Max”, praised his teammate Perez: “It’s always nice to see all the Red Bull fans in the stands, very excited, always with great enthusiasm for Chico “.
The most popular Mexican in the country and winner of two races this season on the streets of Monaco and Singapore, he is chasing a third win of the season and a long-awaited first at home.
“My goal is to win the prize that is held in my country and I know I have the car and the team to do it,” he said.
fight for second place
The Mexican, who has played an important role in Verstappen’s victories this season, added that he hopes to be the winner in front of his fans, who will be present in the stands, but admits it won’t be easy.
He added that he knew Verstappen would enter the race to compete and win, even though the drivers and constructors’ titles had been decided in favor of Red Bull.
Pires rejected suggestions that Verstappen could do him a favor by helping him win in Mexico in response to his serve at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year, when the Dutchman won his controversial first world title on the last lap.
“I don’t want anyone to give me anything,” said the Mexican. “I have been doing everything without gifts for so many years now and in the end I don’t even think about it. It’s my job. I think about winning and I want to be perfect this weekend and try to win.”
“In the end I think it’s normal. We all want to win. If there was a different situation, that there was a different kind of help, there is no doubt that he (Verstappen) would do it just like I have done with him in the past.”
In addition to personal and national pride, Pires is also struggling to finish the season behind Verstappen.
He is third in the overall standings, two points behind Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco on the eve of the race, who finished last season third behind Verstappen and British Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton.
Hamilton for the sixteenth consecutive year?
Another record, perhaps more famous but less easy to achieve given the current dynamism, is what Hamilton aspires to.
The Brit has won at least one Grand Prix in the past 15 years. If he wins this season, he will overtake Schumacher.
But Hamilton is facing his worst F1 season since his 2007 debut, and is currently sixth overall.
Mercedes did not take advantage of the technical changes that came into effect at the start of the season, unlike Red Bull, and to a lesser extent Ferrari.
Hamilton only had three chances (Mexico, Brazil and Abu Dhabi) to save his season and win the 104th race of his professional career to make up for the disappointment of his inability to crown his eighth world title and beat the record partnership with Schumacher. (7 titles each).
© 2022 AFP
