You can’t stop Max Verstappen, regardless of which continent the Formula 1 driver is racing on.
On Sunday, Verstappen overcame some early obstacles and caught Lewis Hamilton late to win the 2022 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix in August, Texas.
With 15 laps to go, Hamilton had the lead. However, Verstappen made up for lost time from a long pitstop due to a faulty wheel gun that had caused him to plummet down the rankings. He worked his way back up the leaderboard, swapping positions with Charles Leclerc a few times before eventually catching Hamilton and passing him on Lap 50. After that, it was a foregone conclusion.
LAP 50/56
Hamilton bravely defends but he can't stop Verstappen getting past
The Dutchman leads! #USGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/qTrJC2UPHy
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 23, 2022
With the victory, Verstappen matches Sebastian Vettel’s and Michael Schumacher’s record of 13 wins in a single season. His first-place finish, coupled with teammate Sergio Perez’s fourth-place finish, also earned Red Bull Racing its fifth Constructor’s Cup title and its first since 2013.
Victory for Max Verstappen! 🏆
And @redbullracing 🙌#USGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/85cMIbG90U
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 23, 2022
That was a bittersweet accomplishment as team founder Dietrich Mateschitz died on Saturday, which impacted the team and its drivers. Verstappen discussed what it meant to win following that tragedy.
MAX: “It’s a very difficult weekend for us. This one is definitely dedicated to Dietrich. The only thing we could do today is win”#USGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/w3Sx1MK5Vd
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 23, 2022
The big victory on U.S. soil had a lot of racing fans offering some strong reactions to the news of Verstappen’s win, the record that he matched, and Red Bull Racing’s accomplishments.
With that win, Max Verstappen equals Michael Schumacher's record of 13 wins in a single season…
Huge congratulations to him 👏 pic.twitter.com/lHnRsFX1zt
— Ferrari News 🐎 (@FanaticsFerrari) October 23, 2022
MAX VERSTAPPEN YOU'RE WORLD CHAMPION, WE'RE WORLD CHAMPIONS pic.twitter.com/Ueyc0cJN98
— out of context Max Verstappen (@OoCVerstappen) October 23, 2022
Most wins in a single F1 season 🏆
Michael Schumacher 13
Sebastian Vettel 13
Max Verstappen 13 (3 races to go) 🇳🇱Greatness.
— ✯ 1 (@Willseh14) October 23, 2022
Max Verstappen getting boo'd in America is a perfect representation of how unpopular he is if you actually go outside the F1 echo chamber. He don't move the needle and is just not a likeable person
— sean (@SJbrigante) October 22, 2022
Max Verstappen WINS the US Grand Prix! 🇺🇸
He equals Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel for the most race wins in a single season! 👏 pic.twitter.com/uJcYNTObZg
— ESPN F1 (@ESPNF1) October 23, 2022
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.