Red Bull Secures 100 Race Wins at the Canadian Grand Prix

By: Shaelyn Winters

Edited By: Kylie Augis

With Max Verstappen’s first place podium at the Canadian Grand Prix last weekend, Red Bull successfully earned their 100th race victory in Formula 1. The victory arrived following eight-straight race wins for the team this season, and nine straight including the 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Of those eight races, Verstappen has won six, with the exception of Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan, which were won by his teammate, Sergio Perez. As a result, Red Bull currently leads the constructors championship with 321 points, maintaining a 154 point lead over Mercedes who reside in second.

As Red Bull Racing has only competed under their present namesake since 2005, the energy drink company does not have an extensive history in the sport. Its origination can be traced back to Stewart Grand Prix Racing (1997-1999) and, more importantly, Jaguar Racing (2000-2004), whom Red Bull purchased the team from for one American dollar. To accomplish 100 race wins in Formula 1 is not an easy undertaking. Red Bull now joins only four other Formula 1 teams to accomplish this achievement: Ferrari, McLaren, Williams and Mercedes. Of these teams, only Ferrari has accomplished over 200 race wins. Since its establishment, the team has experienced two eras of complete dominance in their 17 years of participation with Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen. Other drivers who have contributed to Red Bull’s 100 race wins include Mark Webber, Daniel Ricciardo and Sergio Perez.

Moreover, Sebastian Vettel accomplished the team's first race win at the 2009 Chinese Grand Prix and went on to dominate the grid by winning four back-to-back drivers and constructors championships with the team from 2010-2013. Of the 100 wins they have accomplished, he has earned the team 38 victories.

Further, despite the long-term success of Lewis Hamilton (who accomplished Mercedes’ 100th race win at the 2019 Mexico Grand Prix), Red Bull is currently experiencing their second era of dominance with Max Verstappen. He has led the team to two additional drivers championships over the last two seasons, as well as a constructors championship in 2022. The driver began his Formula 1 career at seventeen-years-old, the youngest to ever compete in the sport – with Toro Rosso, Red Bull’s development team. In his third season in Formula 1 and following the reassignment of Daniil Kyvat to Toro Rosso, Verstappen won his first race with Red Bull at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix. This accomplishment dethroned Vettel as Verstappen became the youngest driver to attain victory in the sport. To date, the 2022 Formula 1 season is his most dominant, having achieved fifteen victories and seventeen podiums – the most in a single season by any Formula 1 driver.

As a whole, the accomplishment of 41 race wins is impressive on two accounts: 1) it makes up nearly half of Red Bulls race victories, and 2) the Dutch driver is now tied with Ayrton Senna for fifth place in all-time race wins. Verstappen took to social media to share his enthusiasm over the success of the team: “To take the 100th Grand Prix victory for our team is absolutely fantastic and an amazing achievement by everyone! Very proud to be part of this, @redbullracing 👏 Let’s keep this going 🚀.”