The Dutch Grand Prix, traditionally a triumphant celebration for Max Verstappen and his orange-clad supporters, might unfold differently this year. While Verstappen has dominated the Zandvoort circuit since its return to the Formula 1 calendar in 2021, his recent performances have been less stellar, placing him under pressure in the championship standings.
Verstappen enters the race after a winless streak of four races, his longest since 2020. He acknowledges the increased competition, stating, “Last year coming here, I was a lot more confident that we had a big chance of winning the race, but that’s how the season is already. It’s a lot more competitive and from our side, I think we’re still trying to improve, trying to find a better car balance.”
His 200th race will see Verstappen, who has signed a contract with Red Bull until 2028, hinting at a potential end to his F1 career. This comes as McLaren and Mercedes are closing the gap on Red Bull, who started the season with a commanding lead. A victory for either team at Zandvoort would be a significant statement.
Despite Verstappen’s 78-point lead over Lando Norris in the drivers’ standings, Red Bull’s constructors’ championship lead of 42 points over McLaren is vulnerable due to Sergio Perez’s inconsistent performance. The Mexican driver has been struggling since April, failing to achieve a podium finish and only achieving a top-seven finish once since May. This has sparked speculation about his future within Red Bull, particularly as the team appears to have five drivers for four seats across its main team and its second team, RB.
Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko confirmed that Liam Lawson, who raced for AlphaTauri (now RB) last year, will be part of the team next year, leaving Daniel Ricciardo’s position uncertain. Meanwhile, Alpine has confirmed Jack Doohan as Pierre Gasly’s teammate for 2025.
While Mercedes has shown strong recent form, George Russell believes Lando Norris is the only driver who could potentially catch Verstappen, but even that appears unlikely. “Personally, I don’t see anybody catching up with Max and Red Bull in normal circumstances,” Russell stated. “They have an exceptional lead. It’s just we’ve been used to crazy dominance in the last few years.”
The Dutch Grand Prix promises to be a thrilling race, as the fight for the championship intensifies with the pressure mounting on Max Verstappen and Red Bull.
