Max Verstappen had to settle for second place on the podium Dutch GP. For the first time since the Zandvoort track returned to Formula 1 in 1985, the winner is not the home favourite. Yet Max gave his all, overtaking Norris at the start. However, it wasn't enough for the Dutchman to take the victory on his home circuit.
Verstappen second in the Dutch GP: victory missing for five races
The anniversary of the two hundredth race in Formula 1 did not bring luck to Max Verstappen. The world champion always showed himself down to earth in the statements released over the weekend. He was right, Super Max, not to let much hope of victory shine through, right here in his home race, where every year a sea of orange fans flock to the stands. The orange that triumphed, however, was that of McLaren, with Norris taking almost twenty seconds off Red Bull's number one, who probably concentrated on managing the car at the end of the race without pushing any further. Verstappen's Max was allied with the great performance of Charles Leclerc, who managed to block Oscar Piastri and prevented him from reaching the Dutchman in second position.
A year ago it would have been hard to believe, but Max Verstappen hasn't managed to climb to the top step of the podium for five races. Yet a champion can be seen even in these lean times. In fact, if the Dutchman was much criticized in Austria and Hungary for having shown little composure, both towards his opponents and towards his own team, in the last two races Verstappen concentrated only on obtaining the maximum result possible. An important attitude, because every point at the end of the season could be important, especially for the constructors' championship, which sees McLaren closing in on it Red Bull. However, a different situation regarding the drivers' world championship, with Max Verstappen who may have put himself on the safe side thanks to the great results obtained in the first part of the season.
Verstappen is satisfied: “We tried everything today, but we weren't fast”
Verstappen and Red Bull did what they could, but, as mentioned, it wasn't enough to secure first place in the Dutch GP once again. The only flash of the world champions was the start, with Norris once again letting himself slip away at the start. The breakaway, which as stated by the English McLaren driver also expected, did not happen. Verstappen thus remained close to Norris, being overtaken on lap eighteen. From then on there was no more competition. “We always try to do the best. We also started well, but we tried everything today, but I think it was quite clear on the track that we weren't fast enough. I tried to get second".
"I was confident in the start because we have always started well, and luckily we succeeded this time too. Then I tried to run my race, but I could only do second“. A loving admission from the home driver, who had to submit to the test of strength from Norris and McLaren in front of his audience. Furthermore, the emotional boost of the Orange fans was of little use, as they were thanked and greeted by Max Verstappen in Dutch in the usual interview preceding the podium celebrations.
