Max Verstappen jokes that it would be “terrible” to be stuck with the same number of career wins as Lewis Hamilton’s car number as he criticizes his rival after the Hungarian Grand Prix win.

Max Verstappen said it would be “terrible” to be stuck with the same number of career wins as Lewis Hamilton’s number of cars following his crushing victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

The all-conquering Dutchman beat polesitter Hamilton into the opening corner at the Hungaroring before leading every lap and claiming his seventh consecutive victory and the 44th of his career.

“Hopefully I don’t stay at 44 for too long,” Verstappen joked. “That would be terrible, I need to get to 45 quickly.”

Evidence from the season so far suggests Verstappen’s wait will last just a week with Spa-Francorchamps hosting the final round before the summer break of this highly uneven campaign.

Indeed, Red Bull will enter next Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix unbeaten from the first 11 rounds of 22, setting a new record on Sunday with its 12th consecutive victory.

Verstappen joked that it would be terrible to be stuck with the same number of wins as Lewis Hamilton’s number 44 car.

The perfect dozen includes last season’s final round in Abu Dhabi, eclipsing McLaren’s 11 in a row in 1988 when Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost were behind the wheel.

“Twelve wins in a row is just unbelievable,” added Verstappen, who is now 110 points clear at the top of the world championship on his unstoppable march to a hat-trick of titles.

‘What we’ve been doing for the last two years has been incredible. Hopefully we can keep this momentum going for a long time. We always want to do better, but days like this are just perfect.

The 25-year-old Verstappen crossed the line more than half a minute ahead of runner-up Lando Norris to record his ninth win of the season and retain Red Bull’s chance to become the first team in F1 history to complete a perfect campaign.

Max Verstappen crosses the finish line and adds his ninth victory in eleven races this season

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said: “As a kid I remember watching Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna under the incredible leadership of Ron Dennis achieve that feat (11 wins in a row) and to think we’ve improved on that is something the whole team in Budapest and in Milton Keynes have worked so hard for and it means a lot.”

‘Max is a driver totally united with himself in the car and with complete confidence in the team. We are witnessing a sportsman at the top of his game and it is a pleasure to work with him.

“Max is a modest guy and he’s uncomfortable with the applause he’s getting, but he deserves all the credit he’s getting right now.”