Round 21 F1 GFT AI Driver Rankings: Verstappen wins Brazil Sprint and GP, Sets new win percentage record

5 November 2023
By Bob Francis, Managing Editor
Go Full Throttle Racing News

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL — The records keep falling as Red Bull World Champion Max Verstappen continues to dominate the F1 competition. By winning the Brazil Grand Prix on Sunday in Brazil, Verstappen collected his 17th win of the season and set a new Win Percentage mark of 85% 17/20 (with 2 races remaining in season). The previous mark was set by Ferrari driver Alberto Ascari, by winning six out of eight races in 1952, establishing the original record of a 75% percentage win.

F1 Win Percentages (Image Credit: formula1.com)

SHAKE-UP IN THE POINTS AND GFT F1 AI DRIVER RANKINGS

Round 21 of the F1 GFT AI Driver Rankings after Brazil (Image Credit: GFT Digital)

Lando Norris was the driver to watch as he kept the pressure on Max Verstappen, finishing 2nd in both the Saturday’s Sprint Race and in Sunday’s Grand Prix. The combined points moves Norris up one spot to P5 in our rankings. McLaren has given Norris a competitive car once again and he demonstrated he can take the fight to Verstappen. Lance Stroll’s 5th place in Brazil moves him back into the Top 10. Moving up 2 spots to P14 in the rankings to P14 was Yuki Tsunoda who finished 6th in the Sprint and 9th in the GP.

Max Verstappen put in an assured drive to take a dominant victory in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, making it a record-breaking 17th win for the world champion in 2023 (Image Credit: formula1.com)

Brazil GP podium welcomed back Fernando Alonso who held off a charging Checo Perez for P3 (Image Credit: Oracle Red Bull Racing)

Winners Quote

“The starts were very important today; both of them were very good,” said Verstappen. “Then after that the whole race was about the management of the tires. We were good on any tire, but I think especially that middle stint, we could create a bit of a gap, so I thought that was very strong there.

“It all looked quite good but with the high [degradation] around here, you were constantly correcting the car, so your focus always needed to be there, but luckily it worked out great today.”

Up next — Vegas Baby!

There are now just 2 races remaining in the 2023 F1 season- on to Las Vegas for the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix, which will take place from November 17–19.