Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2023: Max Verstappen has more records and glory within reach

Max Verstappen is poised to finish his stellar season with two more records in Abu Dhabi as well as a third world title.

If the Dutchman triumphs again at Yas Marina Circuit, he will become the first driver to have won 19 races in a single season, with an overall tally of 54.

That will lift him above four-time champion Sebastian Vettel to third in the all-time list, chasing only Michael Schumacher (91 wins) and Lewis Hamilton (103).

But arguably even more impressive is the conquering of another statistic that has stood for 60 years.

That is the benchmark of most time spent at the front of the field set by Jim Clark when he obliterated his rivals as he roared to the 1963 crown.

But the statistics are as much a reflection of the Dutchman’s robot-like consistency as the lack of competition he has faced from his rivals and teammate Sergio Perez, who has won just twice in the same car.

The laps led statistics may appear one that is solely for hardcore fans, but it is the best barometer of real success.

It has stood the test of time and defied even the greatest drivers from Ayrton Senna and Schumacher to Alain Prost and Jackie Stewart, even in their pomp with superior machinery.

It even eluded Hamilton when he won pretty much as he pleased between 2014 and 2021, 2016 excluded.

And even with all the records tumbling, Red Bull’s veteran rival said such easy domination begins to pall if you get so much of it.

Sheikh Mohamed attends the final day of the Formula 1

“When you have so much success, no matter how hard you try it’s hard to keep things in perspective,” said the seven-time champion Hamilton.

“I even hear it in Christian Horner’s voice when Max wins, he doesn’t know what to say. He’s like: ‘Here we go again. Good job,