The three-time defending champion won the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday starting from pole, his fourth victory in five races this season and his 23rd in the last 27 extending through last season.
Only a brake failure last month at the Australian GP in
Verstappen trailed for only a few laps following a pit stop.
The Ferrari pair of
The rest of the points finishers following on were Oscar Piastri of McLaren,
Verstappen now has 110 points to lead the standings followed by Perez (85), Leclerc (76), Sainz (69) and Norris (58).
“It felt amazing,” Verstappen said. “All weekend we were incredibly quick and it was just enjoyable to drive. The car was basically on rails and I could do whatever I wanted to with it. Those kind of weekends are amazing to feel.”
Verstappen was asked if this was the most dominant victory of his career.
“It was a good one, yeah,” he said without getting specific.
The next GP is Miami on
"Completely different track," he said. “Different tires. Different tarmac. So you never know.”
The saftey car came out twice in the middle of the race. Once after Sauber's
In one, Kevin Magnuessen clipped
Verstappen's rule in F1 also extended to Saturday when he took the inaugural sprint race of the season.
Verstappen, after winning in
“The sprint format was better,” Verstappen said. "But let’s not overdo it as well. We are already doing 24 races, six of these sprint events as well. I get it. I guess it sells better and better numbers. But it’s also more stress on the mechanics”
“We take it,” Verstappen added. "We have to deal with it. But that’s not a thing now where we need 12 because it will take its toll on people as well.”
Norris echoed Verstappen.
“The main point is the toll it has on mechanics and engineers,” he said. "I don’t think it’s too bad for us as drivers, honestly. I don’t think we can be the ones to complain at all. The hundreds of mechanics and engineers here that have to travel so much. It's not healthy for them.”
This was the first F1 race in
He squatted on the tarmac after the race and covered his face, the crowd thundering “Guanyu, Guanyu, Guanyu.”
The real competition in F1 for the rest of the season appears to be for the half-dozen places behind Verstappen and Perez.
“Small differences can have a major impact,” Russell said.
Domination is nothing new to F1.
It’s a good bet that Verstappen and
Miami will present a celebrity paddock. There was also a parade of celebrities in
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