Verstappen hits new mark with Schumacher record in sight

Max Verstappen is set to beat a long-held F1 record in November this year, which currently belongs to Michael Schumacher.

The Dutchman's undisrupted reign atop the F1 drivers' standings has now reached the impressive mark of over 750 days - but he still has a little way to go before beating the all-time record.

The 26-year-old took control of the 2022 drivers' title fight following the Spanish Grand Prix on 22 May that year, overtaking Ferrari's Charles Leclerc after that race, and has not been occupied any other position in the standings since.

Schumacher, however, managed to achieve a run of 896 days between 24 September 2000 and 9 March 2003; from the United States Grand Prix in his first title-winning campaign with Ferrari, to the season-opening Australian Grand Prix some two-and-a-half years later.

It was the season in which he took the outright record of most drivers' championships in F1, at the time, with six. That would become seven in total and five straight in 2004. 

David Coulthard was the man to end the German's streak, winning for McLaren, whilst Schumacher came home in fourth place. 

The Scotsman had come close before. After the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola in 2001, both he and Schumacher had 26 points. However, the Ferrari driver had two wins so far that season to Coulthard's one.

With the Dutchman reaching the 750 mark the day after the Canadian Grand Prix, if Verstappen is to claim that record for himself, he must lead the F1 drivers' championship until at least Saturday 2 November 2024 - the day of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix sprint, when his streak will reach 897. 

If after that race he still leads the drivers' standings, it will be yet another record to boast for the triple-world champion.

Following his impressive win at the Canadian Grand Prix, he holds a comfortable 56 point lead over Charles Leclerc - 194 to 138. However, with McLaren and Ferrari having closed the performance gap to Red Bull this season, he will have to fight hard to secure yet another F1 record.