Verstappen sets new record for most F1 podium finishes

Max Verstappen broke the record held by Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel after finishing on the podium in the last race in Abu Dhabi and completing the best season of his F1 career.

Verstappen has not been on the podium in just four races this season – in Azerbaijan after tyre puncture, in Silverstone and Monza where he collided with Hamilton and in Hungary his car was badly damaged in a collision at the start.

In the other 18 races, the Dutchman finished on the podium and improved his best performance so far in the number of podiums (11) from 2018 and 2020, and only in the first F1 season (2015) Verstappen was not on the podium.

With a fantastic season in which he won his first title, Verstappen broke the record held so far by Schumacher, Hamilton and Vettel, who were on the podium in 17 races this season. Interestingly, in 18 visits to the podium this season, Verstappen never finished third – he has ten wins and eight second places.

Schumacher also managed to collect 17 podiums in one season (2002) when he finished on the podium in all 17 races, and Hamilton was on the podium 17 times in five seasons – 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2021 while Vettel did it in 2011.

In terms of the percentage of podium races in one season, Schumacher is at the top (100% in 2002), Clark is in second place (90% in 1963) while Hamilton (2015, 89.47%) and Vettel (2011, 89.47%) share third place.

MOST PODIUMS IN ONE SEASON

MOST PERCENTAGE OF PODIUMS IN ONE SEASON