Max Verstappen is on the verge of making F1 history in a way that hasn’t been seen since the early 1980s.
The Dutch racing superstar could become the first driver in over 40 years to win the world championship while his team finishes third in the constructors’ standings.
It’s a pretty remarkable situation that shows just how dominant Verstappen has been this season, even when his team hasn’t always had the best overall package.
Red Bull Racing still has a mathematical shot at finishing second in the team standings. They’re 38 points behind Ferrari with 44 points still up for grabs in Abu Dhabi. But it’s a long shot.
If Red Bull does end up in third, Verstappen will match a feat last achieved by Nelson Piquet back in 1983. Here’s where it gets interesting – Piquet happens to be Verstappen’s girlfriend’s father.
Piquet pulled off this rare achievement with Brabham, winning the drivers’ title while his team finished third in the constructors’ championship.
Former F1 champion Damon Hill couldn’t help but be impressed. “I think that says it all. At the risk of stating the bleedin obvious, Max is phenomenal. Stats like this don’t lie,” Hill shared on social media.
The achievement would highlight Verstappen’s incredible individual performance throughout the season, consistently outdriving what the car statistics suggest should be possible.
