Max Verstappen has won Sunday's Mexican Grand Prix, posting a record-breaking 14th race victory of the season.
With a second successive world title having been sewn up in Japan earlier this month, the Red Bull driver is now chasing potential immorality in the history books.
Ahead of the race in Mexico City, Verstappen had three opportunities to set a new mark with regards to race wins in a single season, which was held by Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel.
However, the Dutchman was able to move ahead of the legendary duo at the first time of asking, converting his pole position into another success.
Although Verstappen did not lead from start to finish, only a long first stint from Lewis Hamilton prevented him from doing so after a clean getaway down to the first corner.
MAX: "An incredible result. It's been an incredible year so far. We're definitely enjoying it and we'll try to go for more [wins]"#MexicoGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/rw1QtwqdjP
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 30, 2022
When the Red Bulls of Sergio Perez and Verstappen opted to pit, Mercedes duo Hamilton and George Russell took their chances by staying out, going with a different tyre strategy.
While taking the risk was justified, it did not pay off, and Verstappen was able to coast through the second half of the race before eventually winning by 15.186 seconds.
From Hamilton's perspective, there will be disappointment that he could not pose a greater threat, but this was a second runner-up finish in a row after the United States Grand Prix last week.
In his home Grand Prix, Perez finished third to move five points clear of Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, who finished six, in the race for second place.
Russell had to make do with fourth, 31 seconds adrift of the podium spots, while Carlos Sainz Jr secured fifth position well ahead of teammate Leclerc.
Darren Plant
