Review of 2019. The year of Max in numbers
Published on 02 January 2020 by Kees-Jan Koster
2019 was the fifth and up till now most successful year of Max Verstappen in Formula 1. Before the new year starts, Verstappen.nl looks back on the most remarkable facts and statistics of Max’ last season.
With a third position in the championship and a total of 278 points this was the most successful season up till now in Formula 1 for Max. One position up from fourth in the championship the year before. With this Verstappen is the youngest driver ever to finish in the top three of the championship.
With three victories, the Dutchman also achieved his most victories in one season, after two victories in both 2017 and 2018. With a total of eight victories he already scored the same number of victories as the Belgian Jacky Ickx and Danny Hulme, the world champion of 1967.
After winning in Mexico two consecutive years in 2017 and 2018, Max triumphed this year in Austria for the second time in a row. The victory in Austria also was the first victory for engine supplier Honda since its return to Formula 1 in 2015. In Hockenheim there was double success for Honda with a victory for Max and third place for Daniil Kvyat in the Toro Rosso. In Brazil Honda even took a double victory with Verstappen first and a wonderful second place for Pierre Gasly in the Toro Rosso.
Max scored nine podiums this year. With 31 podiums in total, Max belongs to the fitting number of 33 drivers with the highest number of podiums in Formula 1, the same number as the threefold world champion Jack Brabham.
A pole position was till missing on Verstappen’s track record. Finally in Hungary Max scored his first pole position in his Formula 1 career. That made the Dutchman the 100th pole sitter in the history of Formula 1. Another pole postion followed in Brazil, where he for the first time won the race from pole, while pole position in Mexico was taken from him.
In his Formula 1 career Max has driven exactly 500 laps in the lead, of which 156 laps this year. In addition Max set the fastest lap of the race three times, which brings his total to seven. The fastest laps in Austria and Germany, meant that Max took the full 26 points, as since this season an extra point is awarded to the driver setting the fastest lap.
During the United States Grand Prix Max passed the milestone of 100 Grands Prix, his father Jos with 107 races is the only Dutchman with more races in Formula 1. Coincidentally Max will drive his 107th race at the Dutch Grand Prix on Circuit Zandvoort. The Dutch Grand Prix will be on the calendar for the first time since 1985. The last race in the dunes of Zandvoort was won by Niki Lauda, who died last year.
Max did not finish only twice this year. The least number of DNFs in a season thus far. When he did not finish in Belgium it ended the series of 21 top five finishes for Verstappen. Something only three other drivers have done.
Finally Max was declared seven times ‘Driver of the Day’, most of all drivers and during the FIA prize-giving gala in Paris he received the ‘Action of the year’ award for overtaking Charles Leclerc at Silverstone, after winning this award also in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Both Max and Aston Martin Red Bull Racing are focussed on 2020. If Max succeeds to take the world title, he will be the youngest driver ever to achieve this.
Results of Max Verstappen in 2019
Grand Prix Qualifying Race Australia 4 3 Bahrain 5 4 China 5 4 Azerbaijan 4 4 Spain 4 3 Monaco 3 4 Canada 9 5 France 4 4 Austria 2 1 United Kingdom 4 5 Germany 2 1 Hungary 1 2 Belgium 5 DNF Italy 19 8 Singapore 4 3 Russia 9 4 Japan 5 DNF Mexico 4 6 USA 3 3 Brazil 1 1 Abu Dhabi 2 2
