Max Verstappen career comparison with Lewis Hamilton continues to fuel debate in Formula 1, especially now as Verstappen reaches the milestone of 233 races in his career. As the two championship-winning drivers have gone head-to-head on the track for over a decade, their statistics after 233 starts reveal both their individual strengths and the evolution of their rivalry.
Background to a Modern F1 Rivalry
Max Verstappen made his Formula 1 debut in 2015 with Toro Rosso, while Lewis Hamilton began his career eight years earlier in 2007, racing for McLaren. Since Verstappen’s entry, Hamilton has already claimed two world championships and had a substantial number of victories, establishing himself as a dominant force on the grid before Verstappen’s arrival.
The fierce competition between Verstappen and Hamilton reached its peak during the unforgettable 2021 season, a title fight marked by close on-track battles and dramatic moments that caught the attention of fans worldwide. Although subsequent seasons saw Hamilton struggling with less competitive cars at Mercedes and later Ferrari, the rivalry persisted. Each time the two share the track, there remains an intense contest for supremacy, no matter their position in the standings.
Comparative Record at 233 Race Starts
To fairly compare these two drivers at identical career points, analysts have evaluated their statistics at the moment of their 233rd race. For Hamilton, this milestone was the 2019 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Verstappen reached his 233rd start at the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Both drivers show remarkable consistency and talent, but there are notable distinctions in key performance metrics at this stage.
World Championships: Four for Verstappen, Five for Hamilton
After 233 races, Max Verstappen has claimed four world championship titles, with his victories coming in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. He narrowly missed a fifth, finishing just two points shy at the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. In contrast, Lewis Hamilton had already secured five world titles by his 233rd race, winning in 2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2018.
Race Wins: Hamilton Slightly Ahead
Verstappen currently has 71 Grand Prix wins to his name following his latest success at the 2025 Abu Dhabi race. By the same career stage, Hamilton had achieved 75 wins, putting him four victories ahead of Verstappen after 233 races.
Podium Appearances: Hamilton Leads
The number of podium finishes is another area where Hamilton had the edge. Verstappen stands at 127 podiums after 233 starts, while Hamilton had reached 138 podium finishes, demonstrating his consistency at the front of the pack in the early part of his career.
Pole Positions: Marked Contrast in Qualifying
In terms of pole positions, the difference is most pronounced. Verstappen has claimed 48 poles by his 233rd race, whereas Hamilton had recorded a commanding 84 poles at the same moment in his career, underscoring his reputation as one of qualifying’s strongest performers.
Fastest Laps: Closely Matched Stats
Setting the fastest lap in a race is a statistic where the drivers are more closely matched. Verstappen achieved 36 fastest laps, only five fewer than Hamilton’s 41 after 233 races. While fastest laps earned additional world championship points between 2019 and the end of 2024, this metric now serves a ceremonial role in the sport.
Total Points: Verstappen Surpasses Hamilton
The only area where Verstappen surpasses Hamilton in the Max Verstappen career comparison is in total career points, with 3444.5 points to Hamilton’s 3104 at 233 races. This lead can be partly attributed to a change in the points system. Hamilton competed for three years under an old scoring method, where a race win counted for just 10 points. With the introduction of a 25-point prize for victory from 2010, drivers since then, including Verstappen, have been able to amass higher points totals throughout their careers.
The Final Word on Their Records So Far
The statistics across key measuring sticks—championships, wins, podiums, poles, fastest laps, and points—highlight both drivers’ strengths and the shifting landscape of modern F1 racing. Lewis Hamilton’s strong start to his career and initial advantage in wins, podiums, and pole positions illustrate his sustained dominance in the early and mid-2010s, while Max Verstappen’s exceptional points tally and championship wins in recent seasons showcase the sport’s evolving competitive balance.
As both drivers continue their Formula 1 journeys—one now with Ferrari, the other remaining a mainstay at Red Bull—fans may see new chapters added to this historic rivalry. Their records, set against changing regulations and fluctuating team performance, will remain central to debates about greatness in Formula 1, proving that the Max Verstappen career comparison with Lewis Hamilton is likely to remain a focal point for fans and analysts for years to come.
