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Since the 2023 F1 Singapore GP, Max Verstappen has lost three races (including one sprint). What if we told you that this number could easily have been higher, but because of one key strength, Verstappen has kept this number down to just three?
That strength is the ability to not lose a position at the start of the race.
There are many streaks that are often talked about when discussing Max Verstappen. He already has the longest streak in F1 in terms of race wins. He is also currently on the longest streak in terms of securing pole positions for Grand Prix races.
Similarly, Max Verstappen has not lost a position at the start of the race since the F1 Qatar GP sprint last season. This takes the streak where he's not lost his position on the opening lap to a whopping 17 races. Let's take a look at each.
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Max Verstappen's hidden strength
#1 2023 F1 Qatar GP
Max Verstappen held off both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell at the start of the race into the first turn to keep the lead. While both the Mercedes drivers ended up colliding with each other, the Dutch driver made his way through smoothly.
#2 2023 F1 US GP (Sprint)
Max Verstappen started the race from pole position and fended off Charles Leclerc through the first sector. After that, it was smooth sailing for the Dutch driver, as he held the lead until the end of the race.
#3 2023 F1 US GP
Verstappen started the race in P6. Keeping his nose clean,, the driver made up one place and was P5 after the first lap.
#4 2023 F1 Mexican GP
A race where Max Verstappen started in P3 and there were two Ferraris in front of him, the Dutch driver made short work of both and was in the lead by turn 1. From that point on, he didn't relinquish the position and won the race comfortably.
#5 2023 F1 Sau Paulo GP (Sprint)
Verstappen started the race in P2, with Lando Norris on pole position. The Red Bull driver didn't take much time in dispersing the young McLaren driver to get the lead into the first turn.
#6 2023 F1 Sau Paulo GP (race)
Verstappen started the race on pole and didn't have much trouble holding on to the lead.
#7 2023 F1 Las Vegas GP
Max Verstappen started the race in P2 but got the jump on Charles Leclerc with a divebomb move into turn 1.
#8 2023 F1 Abu Dhabi GP
This was a straightforward display with the driver starting the race in pole position and holding it without much trouble.
#9 2024 F1 Bahrain GP
Verstappen started the race on pole and held it quite comfortably after navigating the first corner.
#10 2024 F1 Saudi Arabian GP
Fending off Charles Leclerc at the start, the Red Bull racer emerged into the lead after the opening lap in Jeddah.
#11 2024 F1 Australian GP
While Verstappen would subsequently retire from the race with brake issues, he held on to the lead at the start of the race and was ahead at the end of the opening lap.
#12 2024 F1 Japanese GP
This was more straightforward for Max Verstappen, as he got the jump at the start. From pole position, he didn't face much of a challenge from Sergio Perez.
#13 2024 F1 Chinese GP (Sprint)
Starting the sprint in P4, Verstappen kept his place at the start only to gain one position when Lando Norris made a mistake into turn 1.
#14 2024 F1 Chinese GP (race)
Starting the race in pole position with Sergio Perez alongside him, Max Verstappen had his teammate covered into the first turn and thus kept the lead.
#15 2024 F1 Miami GP (Sprint)
Max Verstappen was under pressure at the start from Charles Leclerc but the Dutch driver squeezed the Ferrari driver out, outbraking him into turn 1.
#16 2024 F1 Miami GP (race)
While Verstappen would eventually lose the race, he nailed the start again here and kept the lead.
#17 2024 F1 Imola GP
At Imola once again, Verstappen fended off Lando at the start, held on to the lead, and ultimately won the race.
Why is it so important?
The biggest reason why this is such an important skill is that in Formula 1, if the competition is as close as it is right now, track position becomes an important factor. If Max Verstappen had a bad start at Imola and lost a position or two, could he have won the race? Probably not. In the F1 Miami GP sprint, if Leclerc got the jump on Verstappen at the start, would he have won the race? It's hard to see it happening.
That's two of the last three events where Verstappen would have registered a loss if not for his ability to continue to not lose a position at the start of the race.
It also shows how complete a driver he is. He tries to check every checkbox when it comes to driving. In the current F1 when Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren are this close, this is one of the things that helps Max Verstappen differentiate himself from the pack.
