Max Verstappen Celebrates 100th Podium Win Despite 88 Missed Opportunities!

Max Verstappen achieved his 100th career podium finish after winning the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in just 187 ****races. Despite this milestone, the Dutch driver humorously mentioned the 88 ****races where he did not finish on the podium when asked about his overall record of 188 ****races (even though it was actually his 187th race). Verstappen expressed his happiness about reaching the milestone but emphasized that he does not focus much on statistics and is simply pleased to reach 100 podium finishes.

“But I want to of course continue, and just focus race by race on achieving the best possible result all the time.”

01 March 2024, Bahrain, Sakhir: Motorsport: Formula 1 World Championship, Bahrain Grand Prix, 3rd free practice. Team Principal Christian Horner (l) from Team Oracle Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen from the Netherlands from Team Oracle Red Bull talk in the pits. Photo: Hasan Bratic/dpa (Photo by Hasan Bratic/picture alliance via Getty Images)

On March 1st, 2024, in Sakhir, Bahrain, the Formula 1 World Championship took place with the Bahrain Grand Prix's 3rd free practice session. Team Principal Christian Horner and driver Max Verstappen from Team Oracle Red Bull Racing were seen chatting in the pits. A photo was captured by Hasan Bratic from dpa.

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Verstappen continued his winning streak in Jeddah, finishing more than 13 seconds ahead of teammate Sergio Pérez. Charles Leclerc from Ferrari secured third place in the race.

With this victory, Verstappen has now won the first two ****races of the 2024 season, with Pérez finishing second in both ****races. It seems like there is no stopping Verstappen's dominating performance on the track.

The 26-year-old has won nine ****races in a row, starting from the Japanese Grand Prix in September. It seems like he is on track to secure his fourth consecutive F1 world championship.

Verstappen shared, “I had a fantastic weekend, and I felt great with the car during the race. It was a good performance from the whole team."

The calm and impressive performances of Verstappen and Red Bull on the track this season stand out against the recent controversies surrounding the team.

Reports indicate that on Friday, Red Bull made the decision to suspend a female employee who had accused F1 team principal Christian Horner of inappropriate behavior.

Red Bull conducted an independent investigation in February following accusations against Horner of inappropriate behavior towards an unnamed member of the racing team.

Last week, Horner was found to have not committed any wrongdoing. He maintained his innocence, denying the allegations even after supposed leaked messages were shared in a Google Drive with members of the F1 community. CNN has not been able to verify the authenticity of these messages, and Red Bull stated that it would be inappropriate to comment on the issue.

Christian Horner and Red Bull have faced controversy to start the season.

Christian Horner and Red Bull have faced controversy to start the season.

Ferrari teenager Oliver Bearman had a fantastic seventh-place finish on the grid. The 18-year-old made his F1 debut filling in for Carlos Sainz, who was diagnosed with appendicitis last week.

After his debut, the British youngster was asked how he was feeling. He replied, "Destroyed."

He continued, "Physically, it was a really tough race. Especially towards the end when I had two guys on soft tires behind me, I had to push flat out. It was mentally challenging as expected, and I was also struggling physically. But overall, it was great fun out there."

I believe I performed well today, considering the circumstances. Despite the limited track time, I think I gave it my all. I felt like I had more speed than Alonso and Russell ahead of me, but the gap was too big to catch up.

My lower back and neck are feeling the strain. The seats could use some adjustments, but with the first race happening so quickly, we didn't have time to focus on that. Although not the most comfortable, I am pleased that we completed the race. It was a good motivation to finish quickly!

McLaren's Oscar Piastri finished in fourth place, followed by Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso in fifth and Mercedes' George Russell in sixth. Lando Norris, Piastri's teammate, secured eighth place, with Lewis Hamilton coming in ninth. Niko Hulkenberg from Haas rounded off the top ten by finishing in tenth place.

Editor's P/S:

Max Verstappen's remarkable achievement of reaching 100 career podiums in just 187 ****races is a testament to his exceptional talent and unwavering determination. Despite his impressive record, Verstappen remains humble and focused on delivering consistent performances. His ability to brush off his non-podium finishes and maintain a positive attitude is a reflection of his maturity and unwavering belief in his abilities.

The ongoing controversy surrounding Red Bull and Christian Horner casts a shadow over the team's dominant start to the season. The allegations of inappropriate behavior and the suspension of a female employee raise concerns about the culture within the organization. While Horner has been cleared of wrongdoing, the incident highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in Formula 1. The sport must strive to maintain a positive and inclusive environment for all participants, regardless of gender or position.