Max Verstappen's F1 records: the ones he's broken in 2022 and what he can still break

If the 2021 Formula 1 world championship was Max Verstappen’s breakout work, his 2022 title could well be his masterpiece.

With him and Red Bull being the gold standard bearers at the start of F1’s new era, they have managed to break a number of F1 records.

This being the joint-longest championship ever, the opportunities are more ample – but driver and team need to sustain performance to achieve them, which the Milton Keynes combination did so brilliantly in 2022.

Below, we look at the records Verstappen has broken this season, as well as the ones he missed out on.

Verstappen’s 2022 F1 records

Most wins in a single F1 season

With 15 wins this year, Verstappen has now broken the record of most in a single season, which previously stood at 13 and was held by Michael Schumacher (2004) and Sebastian Vettel (2013).

Early on it appeared as if the Dutchman would have to split the 2022 spoils with Charles Leclerc, but when the Ferrari driver ran into issues Verstappen hit his stride, racking up the wins and breaking the record.

Most grand prix wins per season

Only includes drivers’ most successful season(s)

*Up to the Mexican GP

Most points in a single season

Verstappen now holds the record for most points scored in a single season. Following his Abu Dhabi GP win to round off the year, he now has 454 points, which is now by far more more than the previous record of 413 set in 2019 by Hamilton.

Being a longer season than 2019, 2022 put more points on offer, but the relative ease with which he broke the previous number shows just how brilliant Verstappen and Red Bull have been this year.

The 2022 F1 records Verstappen has missed out on

Biggest F1 championship-winning margin

Such was Verstappen’s dominance this season, it looked as though he might win the championship by the biggest margin ever.

However Vettel still holds the current record of 155, achieved in 2013 over Fernando Alonso.

Verstappen ultimately fell short due to poor races in Singapore and Brazil, winning the championship by a still not inconsiderable 146 points over Charles Leclerc.

Most podiums in a season

The intense 2021 battle between Verstappen and Hamilton saw the Dutchman score the most podiums ever in one season – 18.

Verstappen was close to equalling that impressive statistic this year, but ultimately fell short by one, finishing the year on 17.

Most grand chelems in an F1 season

Surprisingly, despite Verstappen’s recent imperious form, the Dutchman has only two grand chelems – weekend pole position, fastest lap and race win – to his name. His first was achieved at Austria last year, and he scored another at Imola in 2022.

The all-time record for grand chelems in one season is three, jointly held by Alberto Ascari (1952), Jim Clark (1963 and 1965), Nigel Mansell (1992) and Lewis Hamilton (2017).

In part due to Ferrari’s superb qualifying performances, Verstappen missed out on this record in 2022.

Most consecutive F1 wins

In 2013 Vettel beat Schumacher’s (2004), Ascari’s (1952-1953) and Nico Robserg’s (2005-2006) joint-record of 7 consecutive wins by chalking up 9 in a row in his brilliant 2013 season.

In winning five races from France to Italy this year, it looked like Verstappen could be on course to beat Vettel’s achievement, but a bungled qualifying lap and poor race in Singapore put paid to this.

Still, one can imagine he could get close to the record in the future, if this current champion pairing of driver and car remains as potent.

Most poles in an F1 season

Vettel also holds the title of most poles in a season, at 15, one ahead of Mansell, whose record of 14 stood for over 20 years.

Verstappen has 20 career pole positions, but only four of those came this year in a season in which Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc has shown blistering one-lap pace – hitting nine P1s – but often faded in races.

Should Verstappen and Red Bull marry race-day nous with consistent qualifying speed next year, he could be taking that record too.

Highest win percentage in an F1 season

Despite Verstappen’s incredible form this year, he still won’t beat the best-ever win percentage in a single season.

Schumacher holds the record with 72.22 per cent, when he won 13 of 18 races in 2004.

As mentioned above, Vettel clocked the same number of races in 2013, but an extra GP in 2013 meant his proportion was 68.42%.

With 15 wins from 22 races so far this year, Verstappen claimed a win percentage of 68.18%.