Max Verstappen created history in Brazil
Photo : AP
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Max Verstappen created history
- Verstappen finished third
- Verstappen started in the pit lane
Max Verstappen produced one of the greatest drives not just of his own career but in Formula 1 History to seal a podium finish in the 2025 Brazilian GP to keep his faint hopes of defending his world championship title, although race winner Lando Norris extended his lead at the top of the standings.
The Dutchman started the race from the Pit Lane after a disastrous qualification, where he finished in 16th. Red Bull later took the call to change the whole set-up of his career, which meant he had to take the penalty and start his race from pits, away from rest of the grid.
Max Verstappen Creates History
Despite the disadvantage, Verstappen further showed why he is among the greatest racers to ever drive an F1 car with a remarkable display that also saw him lead the race on one occasion. Ultimately, he finished third behind Norris and teenager Kimi Antonelli.
This was the 124th podium of the four-time world champions’ career, which is the third most in history behind Lewis Hamilton (202) and Michael Schumacher (155).
Verstappen broke Hamilton’s record for the highest percentage of podium finishes per race in Brazil among drivers with more than 50 podium finishes
Best Podium To Race Percentage F1 history (Minimum 50 Podiums)
| Driver | Podium Finishes Number | Podium to Races Podium |
| Max Verstappen | 124 | 53.91 |
| Lewis Hamilton | 202 | 53.98 |
| Alain Prost | 106 | 53.27 |
| Michael Schumacher | 155 | 50.49 |
| Ayrton Senna | 80 | 49.69 |
Only six drivers have a better percentage of podium finishes, with none of them racing after 1965 or finishing on podiums more than 35 times (Juan Manuel Fangio).
Among active drivers, the next best percentage after Verstappen and Hamilton is of Oscar Piastri (35.82%), who has finished on the podium 24 times in 67 races.
Max Verstappen Sets World Record
Verstappen became just the eighth driver in F1 history and first since Lewis Hamilton at the 2014 Hungarian Grand Prix to finish on the podium after starting in the pit lane. Previously, the feat has also been achieved by Kimi Raikkonen, Ruben Barrichello, Sebastian Vettel, Nigel Mansell, and Alain Prost.
The pit-lane is the 17th different starting position from which Verstappen has finished on the podium, which is a world record. The feat was owned by Raikkonen for a long time before the Dutchman went past him.
Most Different Starting Grid Positions From Which F1 Driver Has Finished On Podium
| Driver | Podiums From Different Grid Positions | Grid Positions |
| Max Verstappen | 17 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, Pit Lane |
| Kimi Raikkonen | 16 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, 22, Pit Lane |
| Ruben Barrichello | 15 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 18, Pit Lane |
| Jacques Laffite | 15 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 20] |
| Lewis Hamilton | 15 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 17, 20, 21, PL |
Verstappen also holds the record for the most races won from different grid positions (10). He had broken Fernando Alonso’s record (9) last year.
