
Biden to join mourners at memorial of former US first lady Rosalynn Carter
By Rich McKay and Jonathan Allen ATLANTA U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden will help
2023-11-28 20:29

U.S. to launch joint remote sensing satellite with India early next year
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the NASA plan to launch a joint remote sensing satellite for
2023-11-28 20:24

Fantasy Football Week 13: Start 'Em, Sit 'Em
Breaking down the toughest start 'em, sit 'em options for Week 13 of the fantasy football season.
2023-11-28 20:24

Max Verstappen rewrote history books in 2023 – but his dominance stretches way beyond F1
On taking off his seat belt in the Red Bull 2023 juggernaut for the final time on race-day in Abu Dhabi, Max Verstappen took stock. The Dutchman had just coasted to a record-extending 19th victory of the season; his 54th overall, with only Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher ahead of him now in the all-time stakes. For a man whose unflappability has been the defining characteristic of his championship cruise, the three-time world champion admitted to feeling emotional as he waved goodbye to the RB19. “An incredible season – it was a bit emotional on the in-lap,” he said. “The last time sitting in the car that has of course given me a lot.” A lot is an understatement. Pretty much everything is more accurate. Save a strange anomaly in Singapore in September, Verstappen has been on the podium at the end of every race. His 575 points gave him a 290-point margin over second place: team-mate Sergio Perez. If the Mexican’s tally of 285 was doubled, he’d still be five points shy. LIST OF MAX VERSTAPPEN’S 2023 RECORDS - Most wins in a single season – 19 - Most podium finishes in a season – 21 - Highest points total – 575 - Largest championship-winning margin – 290 - First driver to surpass 1,000 laps led in a single season - Only driver to complete every lap in the 2023 season - Highest win percentage in F1 history – 86.3% He also became the first driver ever to surpass 1,000 laps led in a single season, while his Abu Dhabi victory meant he was the only driver on the grid to complete every lap in 2023. In fact, he has not endured a retirement since Australia last April. The sheer supremacy and dismissal of the opposition – both across the garage and the other nine teams, flailing in his wake – has been ruthless. There has been no let-up. Yet the ultimate indication that this was the most dominant season in F1’s 73-year history is best represented (in a time where podiums and race wins are incomparable due to the current record-breaking calendar) by his win-percentage. Nineteen out of 22 gives him 86.3%. The previous record had held for over 70 years: Alberto Ascari’s 75% in 1952, when he won six of eight races. It makes Verstappen’s 2023 campaign, statistically, the best-ever by some distance. The 26-year-old – whose calculated in-race menace and over-eagerness of his early 20s looks a thing of the past – has set the new benchmark, far beyond the likes of Fangio, Schumacher and Hamilton. Formula 1 has never seen the like before. In Verstappen’s own words: “It will be hard to do something similar again.” But where does it rank in the all-time great sporting seasons? A comparison in this respect is difficult, by virtue of different sports placing different emphasis on different competitions, with the weight of team vs individual at play too. Nonetheless, speculating is fun: we’ll give it a go. Immediate standouts include Tiger Woods’ 2000 season, where he stormed to three of the four majors and nine out of 20 PGA Tour wins. Novak Djokovic – take your pick – has a quadruple of hat-trick major glory in 2011, 2015, 2021 and 2023, while Roger Federer’s 2006 saw him lose to just two players (Rafael Nadal and a young Andy Murray). But even then, Verstappen is superior in the numbers game. Woods entered 20 tournaments in 2000, winning nine to give him a 45% win ratio. Of course, golf has a bigger playing field and is prone to more random winners (and just how F1 would value a bit more uncertainty right now for the sporting product). But still, that’s the facts. Federer played 17 tournaments in 2006, winning 12 of them. The Swiss maestro is closer, with a 70.6% win percentage in tournaments played. He has Rafael Nadal to thank for it not being near-perfect, with four of those five losses at the hands of the Spaniard. Djokovic’s best season for titles was 2015, when he won 11 from 16 tournaments played – 68.75%. Serena Williams had an identical 11/16 titles record in 2013. Still, some way short of Verstappen. In recent years in European football, Barcelona’s treble-winning season in 2014-15 was super impressive. Lionel Messi and co. played 61 matches, winning 51 of them. That gives them 83.6% across the course of the season. Staggering, really. Manchester City’s treble last year came in at 73.77% of matches won, with their 2017-18 100-point season statistically better at 80.7%. Across the Atlantic, only two NBA teams have ever recorded win percentages higher than Verstappen’s: Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls in 1995-96 and Steph Curry’s Golden State Warriors in 2015-16. The 1972 Miami Dolphins are the only team ever to complete a perfect NFL season, with Tom Brady’s New England Patriots coming close in 2007 before falling at the final Super Bowl hurdle. We could go on and on. Blatantly, different sports have different barometers of success. Different competitions and tournaments have different significance depending on prestige and ranking points, unlike F1 where points are identical for each race. But what this very basic overview does show is that Verstappen in 2023 is very much in the conversation. It still feels as though the Dutchman’s achievements this year are viewed through quite a narrow prism. “It’s all about the car,” says Joe Bloggs, with a Mercedes cap on. Sure, the RB19 is one of the greatest cars in F1 history and has a monumental impact. But Perez’s topsy-turvy season in identical machinery shows there is more to Red Bull’s success than the machine. It needs to be armed and steered by capable hands. Verstappen has barely made a mistake all season. His year of dominance will be looked back on in years to come, similar to the Schumacher reign at the start of the 2000s. It’s now about how big Verstappen’s legacy will be. How many titles can he win in a row? Can he get up to Schumacher and Hamilton’s record of seven? And how many races can he continue to win, with a brash sense of ease and control, along the way? Read More F1 fans spark chaos with brawl at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix IndyCar champion admits breaching McLaren contract in £18m lawsuit over F1 seat Lando Norris slams Sergio Perez after collision: ‘It’s nothing new’ Williams boss refuses to confirm Logan Sargeant’s seat for 2024 F1 2023 season report card: Red Bull flourish but what about Mercedes and Ferrari? Toto Wolff sees ‘Mount Everest’ ahead as Mercedes seek to end Red Bull’s domination
2023-11-28 20:23

‘She’s still in character’: Fans adore Margot Robbie's all-black Barbie look at Gotham Awards
Margot Robbie attended the Gotham Awards looking magnificent in an all-black outfit without the typical Barbie-inspired pink
2023-11-28 20:23

Internet aghast as Brooklyn priest is sacked from duties for allowing Sabrina Carpenter's 'Feather' shoot in church
The pastor has said that while he was told a funeral sequence would be shot, the ultimate result was 'not what was initially presented'
2023-11-28 20:21

Conspiracy theories swirl as McDonald’s opens branch in ‘middle of field’ with no electricity
The opening of a McDonald's has sparked conspiracy theories after it's location was revealed to be the middle of the Canadian countryside. "Officially open for business. Our staff awaits you at our new restaurant at 8075 Marcel-Villeneuve, Laval," the restaurant wrote on Facebook. McDonalds' Jéremy Lévy said: "I am delighted to be involved with the community of Saint-François on the occasion of this opening. Growing up with a father who is also a McDonald's franchisee, I have had the opportunity to see him actively involved in the communities in which he operates his restaurants. Today, I am very excited to follow in his footsteps and get involved in the same way." However, the location has gone viral after a TikTok was uploaded by user @thumbs.up.canuck. The creator noticed the McDonald's and was left confused after seeing where it was situated, and claimed it didn't even appear to have electricity. @thumbs.up.canuck McDiesel fumes #mcdonalds #crazy "It's literally in the middle of farm field," they said. "It's surrounded by farm, and there's not even electricity yet. They're running the damn place on a generator! That's crazy!" After being viewed over 37,000 times, conspiracy theories have begun blooming from the video. "Then you know what's coming they wouldn't put it there for nothing," one user claimed. A second added: "In two years it will be surrounded by houses strategically planned." "All the surrounding farms are about to be purchased and sold to developers", a third comment read. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings. How to join the indy100's free WhatsApp channel
2023-11-28 20:21

'Made the worst movie ever': Internet slams Taika Waititi as he reveals he once had no interest in working with Marvel or directing 'Thor'
In the latest episode of the ‘SmartLess' podcast, 'Thor' director Taika Waititi admitted, 'You know what? I had no interest in doing one of those films'
2023-11-28 20:21

Roundup: Jennifer Lawrence Fires Back at Plastic Surgery Rumors; CM Punk Returns to Raw; Bears Shut Down Vikings
Jennifer Lawrence fires back at plastic surgery rumors, CM Punk returned to WWE Raw, the Bears beat the Vikings and more in the Roundup.
2023-11-28 20:20

Champions League group stages: Who can be eliminated on Matchday 5?
Every club that can be eliminated from the Champions League on Matchday 5.
2023-11-28 20:18

Jennifer Lopez wants to look glamorous when she's asleep
Jennifer Lopez has admitted she always wants to look glamorous at night - even when she's asleep and credits a good lip balm with giving her a 'glossy finish' at the end of the day
2023-11-28 20:16

Ashley Olsen refuses to shelve The Row's unpopular designs
Ashley Olsen has admitted she refuses to shelve The Row's unpopular designs just because they're not selling well - insisting it's best to keep them in stock until costumers pick up on the trend
2023-11-28 20:16
You Might Like...

San Antonio mural artist manifested Victor Wembanyama to Spurs

Bagnaia gains advantage over MotoGP title rival Martin

Who is Guillermo Raya Leon? Oregon man sentenced to life in prison for killing Clark County Sergeant Jeremy Brown in 2021

The Ukrainian refugees returning to war-torn homeland

The View's Joy Behar jokes about starting her own 'merkin' business after Kim Kardashian's nipple bra ad

California education chief Tony Thurmond says he is running for governor in 2026

NFL Rumors: 3 moves Browns can make to replace Nick Chubb

Olivia Dunne woos fans as she playfully faints in video while revealing her secret trait