For the next chapter in Formula 1 history, series winner Max Verstappen quickly got a slap from Papa Jos. The almost playful success of the double world champion on Sunday in Hungary was his Red Bull team’s twelfth win in a row, surpassing McLaren’s record from 1988. “It’s unbelievable, just crazy. A day like that is just perfect,” said Verstappen. Only the award ceremony was a little less perfect later.
The Dutchman celebrated his seventh success in a row on the podium at the Hungaroring, the ninth in the eleventh round of the season and the 44th of his career. “It’s such a pleasure to drive this car,” enthused the 25-year-old. At the finish, he was 33.7 seconds ahead of second Lando Norris in the McLaren – in Formula 1 that’s worlds.
When celebrating during the award ceremony, Lando Norris apparently still had too much energy. The Briton banged his champagne bottle on the podium so hard that Verstappen’s trophy fell from the top step to the floor.
However, Norris did not blame himself for the damage to the winner’s trophy. “Max put him too close to the edge. And then the trophy fell down. It’s not my problem, it’s his,” said the McLaren driver with a mischievous smile at the scene.
A larger hole was visible in the porcelain cup after the mishap. “Sorry Max,” tweeted the McLaren team. Alluding to the record of twelve wins for the Red Bull team in a row, Verstappen’s racing team composed an image of the broken trophy: “Record broken, trophy broken”.
