There were all the credentials to ensure that the Dutch Grand Prix 2024 could become a real celebration for the Orange people who ‘occupied all the stands of ‘invaded’ Zandvoort to support the home idol Max Verstappen: among these, the return of F1 after the summer break which could have coincided with the return to success of the #1 of Red Bull after four races away from the top step of the podium. A victory that would have also come on the occasion of the Verstappen’s 200th GP in his career, but the sporting celebration was ruined by the great performance of Lando Norris, with the reigning world champion still arriving on the podium in second place.
In the history of Formula 1, nine world champions have exceeded the 200 race mark, but 200th GP of their career three of them have not celebrated this milestone with a victory. In addition to the latest case of Verstappen, before him it had happened to the Dutchman’s ‘father-in-law’, namely Nelson PiquetThe Brazilian ended his career in 1991 after 204 races, but at its two hundredth, which was held in Monzacame in 6th place, with Nigel Mansell winning that edition of the Italian GP. In more recent times, however, the other champion who did not celebrate his 200th GP with a victory was Kimi RaikkonenHaving retired after 350 races (the 2nd most present driver in F1 of all time ahead of Hamilton, with 347 on the eve of this year’s Italian GP), the Finn had a colourless weekend with Ferrari in Canadian GP 2010when he finished in 10th place after starting from the same grid position, with the victory instead going to Hamilton
Verstappen has increased the number of drivers to 23 who have reached or surpassed 200 GP starts in F1, but only six world champions have celebrated this milestone with a win. The first to do so was Michael Schumacherwhen in the 2004 European Grand Prix at the Nürburgring knew no rivals, with Barrichello completing the Ferrari one-two. A feat that was also achieved by Jenson Button in Hungary in 2011with McLaren, and later by Fernando Alonso in China at the wheel of the Ferrari in 2013in what still today is his penultimate career victory, just a few steps away from his 400 GPs (it should be noted that, in the cases of Schumacher and Alonso, there are statistical disputes as to what was the 200th, actual GP in the career of the two drivers). The last three champions on the top step of the podium in their 200th race were all concentrated between 2016 and 2018: from the two Mercedes of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamiltonrespectively to Singapore 2016 and Belgium 2017until Sebastián Vettelwho succeeded with Ferrari in Bahrain in 2018.
In addition to the aforementioned drivers, 14 others have surpassed the 200 GP mark in their careers, but only two have failed to win: Nico Hülkenberg, still searching for his first win, and the late Andrea De Cesaris. Finally, the curious case of Alain Prost: the Frenchman concluded his adventure in F1 after finishing the 1993 Australian GP (which became famous for the handshake between him and Senna that put an end to a historic rivalry), in that was his 199th GP.
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