Max Verstappen at 28: Ranking his five greatest F1 victories

As Max Verstappen celebrates his 28th birthday, RacingNews365 reflects on one of the most extraordinary careers the championship has witnessed.

From the teenager who stunned the paddock in Spain to the four-time world champion, Verstappen's journey reads like sporting folklore.

With 67 victories from 226 starts, Verstappen has redefined modern excellence in F1. His career win percentage of 29.65% surpasses even Lewis Hamilton's remarkable 28.15%, showcasing a level of consistency that has become his trademark.

Born on September 30, 1997, in Hasselt, Belgium, Verstappen arrived in Formula 1 as a 17-year-old prodigy. From those early days at Toro Rosso to his unprecedented dominance with Red Bull, his career has been punctuated by moments of pure racing artistry.

Whilst oftentimes a contentious character in the F1, there is no doubting the Dutchman's ability. Love him or loathe him, Verstappen has enshrined himself as one of the championship's greats.

Here are five victories that best capture the essence of the Red Bull driver's brilliance.

1. 2021 United States Grand Prix: The championship-defining duel

Verstappen's victory at the 2021 United States Grand Prix stands as a masterclass in racecraft that became one of the defining moments in his first championship-winning season. The race featured a spectacular wheel-to-wheel duel with title rival Hamilton.

The Mercedes driver executed a brilliant start from second, overtaking pole-sitter Verstappen into Turn 1. This early lead swap set the tone for a strategic chess match between Red Bull and Mercedes throughout the 56-lap race.

Red Bull opened the pit window early, bringing Verstappen in on lap 11 for hard compounds while Hamilton remained out until lap 14. This undercut strategy proved decisive, as Verstappen emerged ahead after Hamilton's stop.

The race's climax unfolded during the second pit stops. Verstappen pitted on lap 29 for fresh hards, while Hamilton stayed out longer, building a 16-second lead before his lap 37 stop. When Hamilton rejoined, he found himself 8.8 seconds behind with 19 laps remaining.

Hamilton's charge was relentless. The gap closed significantly on lap 41 when Verstappen encountered backmarkers, and by the final five laps, just 1.7 seconds separated the championship contenders. On the last lap, Hamilton had DRS, but Verstappen demonstrated exceptional tyre management to hold on for victory by 1.333 seconds.

2. 2024 São Paulo Grand Prix: The masterpiece from 17th

Verstappen delivered one of the most spectacular drives of his Formula 1 career at the 2024 São Paulo Grand Prix, securing victory through a masterful display of racecraft in treacherous conditions. Starting from 17th due to engine penalties, he climbed through the field to claim his first win since the Spanish Grand Prix in June.

The race was characterised by unprecedented chaos from start to finish. It began with confusion during the formation lap when Lance Stroll spun off, leading to an aborted start procedure where some drivers led cars away while others remained on the grid.

Changing weather conditions played a crucial role, with varying rainfall levels creating treacherous driving. The race featured multiple interruptions, including a red flag on lap 32 following Franco Colapinto's crash and a subsequent safety car after Carlos Sainz crashed.

Verstappen methodically worked through the field during the early stages while managing the challenging conditions. The pivotal moment came during the red flag period on lap 32. While George Russell and Lando Norris had pitted at a costly time, Verstappen found himself advantageously positioned.

When racing resumed, Esteban Ocon was leading from Verstappen and Pierre Gasly. Following another restart after Sainz's crash, Verstappen surged into the lead and became untouchable. The championship leader demonstrated why he's considered one of the finest wet-weather drivers, crossing the finish line 19.477 seconds ahead of second-place Ocon.

3. 2022 Belgian Grand Prix: The comeback king strikes again

Verstappen's victory at the 2022 Belgian Grand Prix showcased his exceptional racecraft in overcoming what seemed like an insurmountable disadvantage. Starting from 14th due to engine penalties, he had to overcome 13 cars ahead of him at Spa-Francorchamps.

After early incidents involving Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso at Les Combes on lap 1, and a safety car period, Verstappen found himself in eighth position for the restart. His progress was remarkable, systematically picking off cars ahead to reach third place by lap 8.

The key moment came when team-mate Sergio Perez allowed Verstappen past into the lead on lap 12 after Carlos Sainz had pitted. Once in the lead, Verstappen never looked back, managing his tyre strategy expertly while maintaining his advantage.

Verstappen claimed victory by 17.841 seconds over Perez, also taking the bonus point for fastest lap. This ninth win of 2022 effectively put the championship beyond doubt, extending his lead to 93 points and exemplifying why he would claim his second consecutive world championship.

4. 2025 Japanese Grand Prix: Defensive masterclass under pressure

Verstappen's victory at the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix was a masterclass in defensive driving that marked a significant turning point in the championship battle. The Dutch driver secured his first victory of the 2025 season with a commanding performance at Suzuka, ending McLaren's early-season dominance.

This victory was Verstappen's fourth consecutive Japanese Grand Prix win, establishing his dominance at Suzuka. The triumph came after McLaren had shown superior pace in the opening two races, making Verstappen's breakthrough impressive.

Verstappen secured pole position by just 0.012 seconds over Norris, executing a perfect start and defending his lead into Turn 1. He built a comfortable gap of between 1.5 and 2.5 seconds over the McLarens in the early stages.

The defining moment came on lap 22 during pit stops. Despite a slightly slow stop, Verstappen and Norris exited the pit lane almost side by side. In the ensuing battle, Norris was forced onto the grass while Verstappen maintained position.

What followed was perfect tyre management from Verstappen. Despite sustained pressure from both McLaren drivers, he never allowed either within DRS range. Verstappen held firm under race-long pressure, crossing the line 1.4 seconds ahead of Norris in what his engineer described as "perfection."

5. 2016 Spanish Grand Prix: The day everything changed

No victory in Verstappen's collection carries greater significance than his maiden triumph at Barcelona. At 18 years, 7 months, and 16 days old, he became Formula 1's youngest-ever race winner while also becoming the first Dutch driver to win a grand prix.

Promoted to Red Bull just that weekend from Toro Rosso, replacing Daniil Kvyat, Verstappen was driving a car he had no prior race experience with when he qualified fourth.

The drama began when Mercedes team-mates Nico Rosberg and Hamilton, who had dominated 2016, collided spectacularly at Turn 4 on the opening lap. Hamilton had pole, but Rosberg got the better start before his engine entered derating mode, slowing him enough for Hamilton to attempt an overtake that ended in disaster.

Verstappen executed a masterful strategic drive, managing his tyres expertly through multiple stint changes. The most challenging phase came in the final stages when Kimi Raikkonen mounted relentless pressure from second place.

For over 20 laps, from lap 44 to 66, Verstappen held off the experienced Finn with the gap rarely exceeding one second. Verstappen's victory margin was 0.616 seconds over Raikkonen, demonstrating the intensity of their battle.

The legacy continues

As Verstappen enters his 28th year, his position in Formula 1 history continues to evolve. His 67 victories place him fourth on the all-time wins list, with his win percentage of 29.65% being the highest among current drivers.

The 2025 season has presented new challenges. Despite that, Verstappen currently sits third in the drivers' championship standings, behind the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Norris, and has dragged himself back into — albeit slim — title contention at 69 points behind the Australian, having taken four wins in the opening 17 rounds of the 24-weekend schedule.

From the 17-year-old rookie who made history to the seasoned champion celebrating his 28th birthday, Verstappen's career represents one of Formula 1's great sporting stories.

These five victories capture different facets of his brilliance: championship-defining duels, masterful comebacks, tactical excellence, defensive brilliance, and breakthrough moments.

As he continues to compete at the highest level, Verstappen's legacy as one of Formula 1's all-time greats is already secure.