[Max Verstappen’s Remarkable Race Starts: A Retrospective Analysis]

Join us as we delve into the thrilling world of Max Verstappen, exploring his most memorable opening laps from some of the most iconic races in Formula 1 history. From Imola to Mexico City, we’ll revisit these pivotal moments that shaped the career of one of the sport’s greatest drivers.

[Imola 2021: The Beginning of a Streak]

Our journey begins at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, where Verstappen made a stunning overtake on Oscar Piastri during lap one. This marked the start of a four-year winning streak for the Dutchman at Imola, with his first victory coming in 2021 amidst an intense title battle with Lewis Hamilton.

In the Middle East, Hamilton and Verstappen had already clashed, but it was at Imola where they had their first real confrontation. On a wet track, Hamilton and Sergio Perez started from the front row, with Verstappen in P3. Despite starting well, Hamilton ended up off the track after a successful overtake by Verstappen, losing part of his front wing over the sausage kerbs.

[Mexico 2021: A Historic Season]

The race in Imola was a precursor to a historic F1 season. When the F1 circus arrived in Mexico later that year, the tension was already reaching a boiling point. Verstappen had just won a modern classic in Austin but needed another victory in Mexico City due to the high altitude advantage for Red Bull.

Despite a less-than-ideal qualifying performance, Verstappen managed to overtake both Bottas and Hamilton on the first lap, using their slipstream effectively. This move allowed him to take the lead and eventually win by over 16 seconds, marking his last victory before the nerve-wracking climax of the 2021 season in Abu Dhabi.

[Belgium 2022: A Remarkable Comeback]

Half a year later, Verstappen faced a completely different competitive landscape. The new regulations brought ground-effect cars, and while Mercedes suffered from porpoising, Ferrari was the early-season pacesetter. Despite two DNF’s in Bahrain and Australia, Verstappen managed to fight his way back through the field at Spa-Francorchamps, starting from P14 and eventually winning the race.

After a cautious start, Verstappen overtook several cars on the first lap, including Bottas, Nicholas Latifi, and Kevin Magnussen. He then passed teammate Perez for the lead on lap 12, completing a remarkable charge through the field from P14 to victory.

[Japan 2022: A Masterful Defence]

In wet conditions at Suzuka, Verstappen had to defend his lead in the first corner after a better getaway by Leclerc. Using the racing line, he managed to retake the lead and maintain it throughout the race, despite a red flag causing confusion about whether full points would be awarded.

After a long-awaited restart, Verstappen pulled away from the competition, securing his world championship title in a shortened 28-lap race.

[Brazil 2024: A Title-Winning Performance]

In 2024, Verstappen faced a tougher battle for the world title. Despite a strong start to the season, Red Bull struggled compared to McLaren. However, an update in Austin improved their performance, and Verstappen secured his fourth title with a win in Brazil after starting from P17 due to engine penalties.

After being eliminated in Q2 due to a late red flag, Verstappen fought his way through the field, overtaking Hamilton at the start-finish straight on the first lap and eventually winning in the Brazilian rain.

[Imola 2025: A Title Battle Signal?]

Our journey concludes at Imola 2025, where Verstappen started from the front row but had a poor start. Despite this, he managed to overtake Piastri and Russell on the first lap, setting himself up for another victory. Could this be a sign of a title battle that lasts all the way to the final race in Abu Dhabi? Only time will tell…