Max Verstappen Nears Lewis Hamilton's Illustrious F1 Podium Percentage Record

Max Verstappen, with his 123rd podium finish in Mexico City, has achieved a podium rate of over 50% across his career, putting him on the verge of surpassing Lewis Hamilton in a key F1 statistical ranking. The Dutchman's consistent performance positions him to potentially overtake Hamilton in podium finish percentage as early as the next race.

Why it matters:

• This statistic highlights Verstappen's remarkable consistency and dominance, even at a relatively young age and fewer race starts compared to Hamilton.
• Surpassing Hamilton in this metric would further solidify Verstappen's place among F1's all-time greats, underscoring his extraordinary efficiency in reaching the rostrum.
• It adds another layer to the ongoing statistical rivalry between two of Formula 1's most successful drivers, even as their head-to-head title battles have waned.

The details:

• Verstappen has accumulated 123 podium finishes in 229 Grand Prix starts, resulting in a podium percentage of 53.71%.
• Lewis Hamilton, with 202 podiums from 376 starts, holds a percentage of 53.72%.
• The difference between them is a mere 0.01 percentage points, indicating an incredibly close statistical battle.
• Verstappen's first F1 podium was a victory at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix, his debut for Red Bull Racing.
• He recently overtook Sebastian Vettel in the total number of career podiums, with only Hamilton and Michael Schumacher ahead in that specific list.

What's next:

• If Max Verstappen secures a podium finish at the upcoming Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos, he will officially move ahead of Lewis Hamilton in podium finish percentage, regardless of Hamilton's own result.
• This statistic is dynamic and subject to change with every race, making ongoing performance crucial for maintaining or improving positions.

The big picture:

• Both Verstappen and Hamilton demonstrate extraordinary consistency, with only five-time world champion Juan Manuel Fangio (68.63%) having a higher podium percentage among drivers with at least 25 podiums.
• The table below illustrates where Verstappen and Hamilton stand among F1 legends in terms of podium percentage (minimum 25 podiums):

• The sustained high performance of both drivers underscores their status as two of the most dominant figures in Formula 1 history.