14 Times Verstappen Pushed the Limit and Owned It

From rain-soaked circuits to strategic gambles, Max Verstappen has repeatedly proven he’s more than just fast — he’s fearless, calculated, and endlessly competitive.

Alyana Aguja
July 1, 2025
5 min read

14 Times Verstappen Pushed the Limit and Owned It — David Kirouac-Imagn Images

Max Verstappen’s career is a story of audacity meeting precision. Across the years, he’s combined raw pace with strategic brilliance, turning high-pressure moments into milestones. Whether carving through chaos or defending from the front, Verstappen pushes the edge — and somehow, always seems to own it.

1. Brazilian Grand Prix, 2016 – Wet Weather Brilliance

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On a soaked Interlagos track, 19-year-old Verstappen made jaws drop with his car control and instinctive overtaking. He recovered from 14th to 3rd in just 16 laps during the final stint, dancing around rivals like the rain was an afterthought. That day, people stopped calling him “just a kid” and started saying, “That’s a future champion.”

2. Mexican Grand Prix, 2017 – Turn 1 Masterclass

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At lights out, Max lunged past both Vettel and Hamilton in a gutsy three-wide move into Turn 1, forcing the issue with pure aggression. He never looked back, dominating the race with swagger and speed. It was a statement win—clean, commanding, and absolutely fearless.

3. Austrian Grand Prix, 2018 – Home Turf Heroics

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Despite a rough start to the season and a banged-up Red Bull, Verstappen won in front of a sea of orange-clad fans. He managed tires perfectly and fended off Ferrari and Mercedes pressure with precision and maturity. It was the day Max silenced critics and gave Dutch fans the victory they’d been waiting for.

4. German Grand Prix, 2019 – From Chaos to Victory

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In a slippery, crash-filled race, Verstappen kept his head while others spun — literally. He survived six pit stops, including a donut-worthy 360, and still managed to claim victory. In a race that punished everyone else’s mistakes, Max made his own work to his advantage.

5. Brazilian Grand Prix, 2019 – Redemption Drive

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Returning to the scene of his 2018 pit-lane collision loss, Verstappen qualified on pole and drove a flawless race, fending off Lewis Hamilton with bold strategy and sheer pace. Every move was decisive, every risk calculated. This time, Brazil gave him his due.

6. 70th Anniversary Grand Prix, 2021 – Tire Whisperer

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While Mercedes suffered massive blistering at Silverstone, Verstappen read the conditions perfectly. He executed a masterclass in tire management, turning Red Bull’s underdog status into a stunning win. On that day, smarts beat horsepower — and Max was the smartest on the grid.

7. Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, 2021 – Pole to Perfection

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On a track traditionally dominated by Mercedes, Verstappen took pole and led every lap. It wasn’t just a win — it was a warning shot for 2021. Calm, calculated, and dominant, he closed the season with quiet authority.

8. Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, 2021 – Title Mindset Unlocked

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Max bullied his way past Hamilton into Turn 1, signaling a no-nonsense approach to their title battle. He controlled the tricky, rain-affected race with composure and speed. That move at the start? It was Verstappen telling Lewis: “I’m not here to play second.”

9. Monaco Grand Prix, 2021 – From Prince to King of the Streets

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With pole-sitter Leclerc unable to start, Verstappen seized the opportunity and never let it slip. He led every lap with clinical precision around the tight Monte Carlo streets. By the end, he wasn’t just a contender — he was leading the championship.

10. French Grand Prix, 2021 – The Last-Lap Gamble

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After losing the lead mid-race, Verstappen opted for a bold two-stop strategy and had to chase Hamilton down with just a few laps left. He passed him with style and finality on Lap 52. Bravery and brains — Verstappen balanced both.

11. Belgian Grand Prix, 2021 – Pole in the Rain

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The race barely ran due to relentless rain, but Verstappen’s pole lap in Q3 was something out of a legend’s playbook. Amid aquaplaning and low visibility, he wrung every ounce of grip from the RB16B. It was less a race, more a display of raw wet-weather brilliance.

12. United States Grand Prix, 2021 – Holding Off Hamilton

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In one of the season’s most intense duels, Verstappen managed tire degradation to perfection in the final laps while Hamilton closed the gap. He didn’t blink, didn’t break, and beat Lewis in his own backyard. That win felt like a mental victory as much as a mechanical one.

13. Belgian Grand Prix, 2022 – 14th to 1st

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Starting P14 due to engine penalties, Verstappen sliced through the Spa field like it was a practice session. He took the lead by Lap 18, leaving no doubt about who the championship belonged to. Speed, control, ruthlessness — Max checked every box.

14. Las Vegas Grand Prix, 2023 – Chaos and Control

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In a race packed with crashes, cold tires, and criticism, Verstappen made a controversial move on Leclerc at Turn 1, served a penalty, and still fought back to win. He managed strategy, overtakes, and track limits like a veteran gambler reading a rigged table. Love him or hate him, Max walked away a winner in the Vegas lights.