The F1 record Verstappen equalled with Bahrain GP win

Max Verstappen's dominant 2022 season saw the Dutchman set a new Formula 1 record of 15 wins in a single season, and the Red Bull driver has started 2023 as he finished the previous year, with an easy victory in the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

The Dutchman's win in Bahrain has also seen him surpass Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel to equal an F1 record, with Verstappen having a win percentage of 75% over the past 20 races.

During Vettel's title-winning stretch from 2010 to 2013, the German could do no better than 13 wins in a 20-race period for a win percentage of 65%, while Hamilton's period of dominance from 2014 to 2021 saw the Briton's best 20-race win percentage at 70%, with 14 victories from 20 starts.

The only other driver in F1 history with such a win record over a 20-race stretch is Michael Schumacher, who won 15 from 20 Grands Prix between Italy 2003 and Japan 2004. But if Verstappen wins the next four races, he will have a better 20-race win percentage than even Schumacher.

Ominously for Verstappen's rivals, the Dutchman's win percentage from the past 12 races stands at an even bigger 83 percent, with Verstappen having scooped ten victories.

Despite the dominant nature of Verstappen's title win, the Dutchman still has some way to go to match the record for highest percentage of Grand Prix wins in a single season.

That honour is currently held by Alberto Ascari, who won six of the eight Grands Prix that counted towards the 1952 F1 World Championship for a 75% win rate, in an era where many more races did not carry championship points.

Schumacher's dominant 2004 season sees him second on this list, with 13 wins from the 18 races that year, with Jim Clark and Vettel lining up third and fourth, ahead of Verstappen in fifth.

How many races do you think Verstappen can win in 2023? Vote below and leave your thoughts!