Especially since you’ve got a long ways to go to
catch some Dudes named Schumacher and Hamilton…
Perhaps it’s just Mwah? Or is there a lot of
noise being made over how G-R-R-R-Reat’ Max Verstappen is? Along with being
compared with the pantheon of the Sports elite?
Since now that Ye Formula 1 Brat Pack member whom
I’m simply calling MaxiMillions’ these days has surpassed the late Ayrton Senna’s
F1 career tally of 41 wins, which Max Verstappen tied by winning this year’s
Canadian Grand Prix. Dovetailing nicely with Red Bull claiming the “Ton” for
Grands Prix victories, i.e.; 100 F1 wins.
Red Bull becomes only the fifth Formula 1
Constructor to do so. Behind Ferrari’s 242 W’s, McLaren’s 183, Mercedes 125 and
Williams 114. With Red Bull being able to tie Williams by season’s end if they
sweep the entire season, Youza!
As here’s the numbers I gleamed between Senna
and Verstappen as of the Canadian Grand Prix. Since we All know that Max has
claimed another two Poles and Wins at the subsequent Austrian and British Grands
Prix. And was then only eight wins shy of tying “the Professor”, aka Alain
Prost. And ten shy of tying ‘lil Syd viddle’, aka Sebastian Vettel ( With Prior
to the Hungarian Grand Prix).
Stats Senna Verstappen
Starts 161 171
Wins 41 41
Poles 65 25
Podiums 80 85
Fastest laps 19 24
Championships 3 2
Ayrton Senna: 1984-1994
First Win: 1985 Portuguese Grand Prix
Last Win: 1993 Australian Grand Prix
Max Verstappen: 2015-Present
First win: 2016 Spanish Grand Prix
41st win: 2023 Canadian Grand Prix
Although for Mwah, having actually seen racing in
person whom I fondly rmember as the “four Horsemen!” Aka Ayrton Senna, alain
Prost, Nigel Mansell and Nelson Piquet. The answer to the Question is simple. NO
Max, you’ll never be as great or greater than Senna!
Since although I
rarely dwell upon it. I’ll never forget the one and only time I stood some
three feet apart from Ayrton Senna on the Downtown streets of Arizona!
http://www.nofenders.net/2008/05/may-day.html
Thus, in ten fewer races, when Formula 1
seasons were shorter, therefore meaning a Driver’s career tended to be shorter.
Especially vs. today’s disgusting push by Liberty Media to Suck out All the
Cash possible from F1 by expanding to a ridiculous 24-25 Grands Prix preseason!
Even so, in ten fewer races, Ayrton won three
F1 World Championships vs. Max’s two. Not to mention the jarring discrepancy of
Pole positions, as in 40 Freakin’ more Poles, Aye Karumba!
And this doesn’t even take into consideration
that Senna spent His first year driving for the Back-marker Toleman. Or the
next two seasons with the under-performing Lotus, before finally moving to
McLaren!
As it’s pretty amazing that McLaren’s record of
11 consecutive Grand Prix victories with Senna and Prost’s “magical” 1988
season, winning 15 of 16 Grands Prix has stood some Gory 35 years, before being
broken by Red Bull!
Not to mention this Ain’t a fair comparison,
since it’s obvious Senna would have gone onto win more races and Championships
at Williams had it not been for that fatefall day at Imola…
As I totally agree with the commentator’s
points about overall greatness vs. plain Statistics regarding who the Best
formula 1 Driver is? Although I’m not sure if Senna would be my All-time
Greatest? Since Juan Manuel Fangio and Jimmy clark come to mind! As here’s the
Youtube video of why Senna’s the Greatest F1 Drivers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTg-H3c0kMc&t=60s
As I especially like the point about how Senna
had three Million grieving Brazilians line the streets for His Funeral. Which I
highly doubt would happen for Max!
Not to mention how many millions did Ayrton
donate to His Countries Poor? Which what has Max done?
Yet it seems pointless to compare formula 1 Greats
or any other drivers across the countless generations. Since the more I think
about it, I’m just Uber impressed by El Maestro! Formally known as Juan Manuel
Fangio.
As Fangio didn’t begin wrasslin’ a front engine
Formula 1 roadster until Age 37 in 1948. Arse-sumedly withot power steering!
Not to mention Drum brakes, etc. until Age 47! And in only 52 entries or 51 Starts, won an incredible 24 Grands Prix.
The best ever winning percentage of nearly 50%, noted as 46.15 Freakin percent!
Along with then an unassailable five F1 World
Championships won over just seven years! For which somebody named Der Terminator’
here at No Fenders, aka Michael Schumacher claimed his sixth F1 World Championship
46 years later at Suzuka in 2003. A race your Humble No Fenders Scribe Tomaso
just so happened to be present at!
Or winning His five titles driving four different
Marques, i.e.; Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Mercedes, Ferrari and Maserati once again.
With His 1954 F1 championship impressing me
most, since He won driving for two different manufacturers in one season, beginning
with Maserati before switching to Mercedes; the only time ever done.
Not to mention recuperating from a broken Neck
in 1952! Along wit contesting the grueling Mille Miglia, Targa Florio, Carrera
Pan America or countless other trechorous Rally races in Argentina…
Or how about Jimmy Clark? Who surely would have
won more than two F1 Championships if not killed racing in a Formula 2 race. Being
just one of three Formula 1 World champions to win the Indianapolis 500!
Or Jackie Stewart simply retiring from F1 after
the death of His teammate Francois Cevert. Another of the multitudes of racing
drivers perishing when safety was fairly non-existent. Along with the gritty
determination of Nicky “the Rat” Lauda?
As I could go on ‘N on, but I think Y’all get the point! Yes,Verstappen’s a very good F1 driver who’ll surely surpass Prost and Vettel to become the third All-time Grands Prix winner. But what does it mean? And how much credit does Adrian Newey, whose F1 Chassis have now won a staggering 200+ Grands Prix! Plus the entire Red Bull Racing Organization deserve…
