Flying Dutchman Verstappen chasing historic 15th win of season at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

ABU DHABI: Max Verstappen’s title-winning campaign this year has seen the Red Bull driver set down a serious marker, and he could make history again at this weekend’s Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Victory at the Yas Marina Circuit on Sunday will see the Dutchman secure a historic 15th win of the season and extend his own record of 14 triumphs — the most victories across a single F1 season — a feat that he surpassed at last month’s Mexican Grand Prix.

The number of wins this season is even more impressive given he was forced to retire twice in the first three races, with a power failure in Bahrain and engine issues in Australia. But he showed why he is the world champion with impressive triumphs in Saudi Arabia, Emilia-Romagna, Miami, Spain, Azerbaijan, Canada, France, Hungary, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, Japan, the US and Mexico.

Verstappen’s accomplishments to date have seen him overtake two major figures in the sport — Michael Schumacher (2004) and Sebastian Vettel (2013), who won 13 races in one season for Ferrari and Red Bull, respectively.

Having been consistent throughout the year, Verstappen also holds the record of most points in a season with 429, which he will be aiming to add this weekend.

Seven-time world champion and Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton had previously held the record with 413 during his 2019 season.