Helmut Marko names the 42-podium F1 driver who’s the complete opposite of Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen can overtake Sebastian Vettel for second place on F1’s all-time points list at the Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend. Verstappen needs a podium finish to pass his fellow Red Bull legend.

The Dutchman’s victory in Suzuka moved him onto 3,084.5 points overall. Vettel collected 3,098 between 2007 and 2022.

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton is still extending the overall record at 4,877.5. Verstappen does have an artificial advantage because he’s spent his entire career in the 25-points-per-win era.

Having passed Vettel at the end of 2023, Verstappen’s next target on the wins list is Michael Schumacher. He still needs another 27 to catch the Regenmeister.

As for poles, Verstappen is still ‘only’ fifth all-time on 41. That puts him below not only Hamilton and Schumacher but also Senna and Vettel.

Helmut Marko highlights huge qualifying/race contrast between Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen

Speaking to Austrian newspaper Krone Zeitung, Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko highlighted Verstappen’s pole-to-win ratio. He says it’s a testament to his driver’s strength on Sunday.

By contrast, Ferrari star Charles Leclerc has typically shown his best form in qualifying. Leclerc is joint-11th all-time for pole positions, but joint-37th for victories.

Martin Brundle has called Leclerc the fastest driver in F1 over one lap, and his fans would frame this as qualifying mastery rather than long-run weakness. For instance, he picked up five poles in 2023 even as Verstappen put together the most dominant season ever.

“Leclerc has eight wins from 26 pole positions, while Max has a whopping 64 from 41,” Marko said. “That shows how much he can still improve in races.”

This Charles Leclerc stat needs to be read twice to be believed

Reddit user u/SteelerFever97 has calculated that Verstappen would need to spurn his next 131 pole positions to fall below Leclerc’s conversion rate. Of course, that would rely on the Monegasque failing to improve his record in the same period, but it’s a staggering statistic.

On the other hand, Ferrari fans have called Leclerc the ‘GOAT’ after he became their highest-scoring driver. Though it’s not an entirely representative statistic given differences in scoring systems and appearances, it’s an achievement nonetheless.

Leclerc hasn’t come close to a 27th career pole yet this year, with Ferrari looking like the fourth-fastest team. Even a 43rd podium looks optimistic right now.

Leclerc disagrees with Fred Vasseur, Ferrari team principal, over the Scuderia’s direction. There will be a crucial floor upgrade in Bahrain as they look to transform the mood.