Verstappen's Ground-Era Podiums Surpass Entire Rival Teams

Max Verstappen has finished the ground-effect era with more podium finishes than any other team's combined total from both of its drivers, a statistic that underscores his and Red Bull's dominance over the past four seasons.

Why it matters:

This metric goes beyond simple race wins to highlight the sheer consistency of performance required to outscore entire constructor lineups. It quantifies Verstappen's supremacy in an era defined by new technical regulations and provides a stark benchmark for his rivals as Formula 1 prepares for another major rules reset in 2026.

The details:

• Verstappen secured 66 podiums from the start of the 2022 season through the 2025 finale.
• This total is three more than McLaren's combined driver tally (63), eight ahead of Ferrari (58), and a significant 20 podiums clear of Mercedes (46).
• The statistic highlights Mercedes' relative decline from its previous era of dominance, while also showing the competitive gaps further down the grid, with Aston Martin next at 8 podiums.

The big picture:

The ground-effect era, introduced in 2022, was designed to create closer racing. While it succeeded in shuffling the competitive order behind Red Bull, Verstappen's performance translated the team's technical advantage into unprecedented results. His ability to consistently convert car performance into top-three finishes created a points buffer that was instrumental in securing four consecutive drivers' championships.

What's next:

As F1 heads into another regulatory overhaul for 2026, team principals like Mercedes' Toto Wolff point to a new potential edge. Wolff suggests drivers with extensive simulator experience, like Verstappen through his long-term involvement with Team Redline in virtual racing, will adapt quickest to the new generation of cars. Verstappen's proven adaptability, both in the sim and in real-world events like his Nürburgring outings this year, positions him as a favorite to carry his dominance into the next era.