Formula 1: Max Verstappen achieved something not even Lewis Hamilton has
By Asher Fair
Max Verstappen has now secured a Grand Slam in three consecutive Formula 1 seasons, something only two other drivers have ever done.
Max Verstappen was unbeatable this past weekend at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, topping the speed charts in each of the three practice sessions before taking the pole position and leading every lap of Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix to secure his 40th career Formula 1 victory.
By securing the fastest lap of the 66-lap race around the 16-turn, 2.892-mile (4.654-kilometer) road course, the Red Bull driver secured his third career Grand Slam (Grand Chelem).
He secured his first in the 2021 Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring and his second in the 2022 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola Circuit.
As a result, Max Verstappen is now one of only three Formula 1 drivers to have taken achieved a Grand Slam in three consecutive seasons.
Jim Clark, who holds the all-time Grand Slam record with eight, did it four years in a row, pulling off one in 1962, three in 1963, one in 1964, and three in 1965. Sebastian Vettel, whose four Grand Slams are tied for fifth place on the all-time list, pulled off one in 2011, one in 2012, and two in 2013.
Not even Lewis Hamilton, who ranks second on the all-time list with six, was able to secure a Grand Slam in three consecutive seasons, making Verstappen’s achievement that much more impressive.
Of course, Hamilton still ranks higher than Verstappen on the all-time list, and he has done something that Verstappen hasn’t yet done: secure multiple Grand Slams in a single season.
In fact, all eight drivers with more Grand Slams than Verstappen have secured multiple Grand Slams in a single season before. Nine drivers have pulled it off in total, with both of Mika Hakkinen’s two Grand Slams coming in 1998.
The record for a single season is three, which is shared by Clark (twice), Hamilton, Alberto Ascari, and Nigel Mansell. Ascari secured five total Grand Slams while Mansell took four.
With three, Verstappen is now tied for ninth place on the all-time list with Nelson Piquet. Michael Schumacher is tied for third with Ascari, while Mansell, Jackie Stewart, Ayrton Senna are tied for fifth with Vettel.
dark. Next. All-time Formula 1 wins list
How many more Grand Slams can Verstappen secure in 2023? Can he break Clark’s record before his Formula 1 career ends? The eighth race on the 22-race 2023 schedule is the Canadian Grand Prix, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday, June 18. ABC is set to broadcast the race live from Circuit Gilles Villeneuve beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET. Start a free trial of FuboTV now!