Max Verstappen comes from Belgium to his home Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort this weekend with a spring in his step, although he expects to be less dominant than he was at Spa last Sunday.
Red Bull’s Formula 1 championship leader has won the last two races from the bottom of the grid – 10th in Hungary, 14th in Belgium – and this time will want to continue racing from the front of the grid.
With a gap of 93 points on his Mexican teammate Sergio Perez and 98 ahead of Ferrari Charles Leclerc who remains his closest real rival, Verstappen is relaxed and on his way to a second title.
This weekend will be his first home race as world champion, so there’s plenty to get the party started with the circuit also at full capacity after limited crowds last year due to pandemic restrictions.
“There is a lot more downforce required on the Zandvoort track (than Spa) so it will be harder for us to be dominant, I expect Ferrari to be strong there,” said Verstappen ahead of the 15th race of the 22-round season.
“Of course I want a good result but it’s important to always score points.
“I’m just going to enjoy the weekend with all the fans, it’s going to be pretty crazy.”
MASSIVE PARTY
Verstappen sparked a huge party when he took pole at Zandvoort last year, the first Dutch Grand Prix since 1985.
He looks back on a winning streak with nine wins this season and continues his fourth in a row.
A 10th win would equal his total for the whole of last year and the Dutch driver is on course to break the record of 13 in a season held jointly by Germans Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner said after his side’s double at Spa that circuit characteristics played a big part in the performance advantage.
Zandvoort is not easy for overtaking and with the final steep corners it is much more important to qualify at the top of the grid, although there is always the risk of a safety car coming to make matters worse .
Ferrari needs a morale boost and winning ahead of Verstappen’s Orange Army in the second part of a triple-header would set them up for the Italian circuit of Monza next week.
“Zandvoort should be a better track for us. Monza should have the advantage over Red Bull there, but we will try to win at Zandvoort,” said Spaniard Carlos Sainz, who finished third at Spa after starting in pole position.
Mercedes, far from the pace of qualifying at Spa, will also be looking to bounce back at a circuit where the team finished second and third last year with Lewis Hamilton and is now dead. Valtteri Bottas.
Hamilton’s car took a big hit at Spa after a first-lap collision with Fernando Alonso’s Alpine sent it high into the air before crashing, and question marks remain over many possible penalties.
“He’ll be fine, he’ll be back in the Zandvoort fights,” said team strategy director James Vowles.
Red Bull’s Formula 1 championship leader has won the last two races from the bottom of the grid – 10th in Hungary, 14th in Belgium – and this time will want to continue racing from the front of the grid.
With a gap of 93 points on his Mexican teammate Sergio Perez and 98 ahead of Ferrari Charles Leclerc who remains his closest real rival, Verstappen is relaxed and on his way to a second title.
This weekend will be his first home race as world champion, so there’s plenty to get the party started with the circuit also at full capacity after limited crowds last year due to pandemic restrictions.
“There is a lot more downforce required on the Zandvoort track (than Spa) so it will be harder for us to be dominant, I expect Ferrari to be strong there,” said Verstappen ahead of the 15th race of the 22-round season.
“Of course I want a good result but it’s important to always score points.
“I’m just going to enjoy the weekend with all the fans, it’s going to be pretty crazy.”
MASSIVE PARTY
Verstappen sparked a huge party when he took pole at Zandvoort last year, the first Dutch Grand Prix since 1985.
He looks back on a winning streak with nine wins this season and continues his fourth in a row.
A 10th win would equal his total for the whole of last year and the Dutch driver is on course to break the record of 13 in a season held jointly by Germans Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner said after his side’s double at Spa that circuit characteristics played a big part in the performance advantage.
Zandvoort is not easy for overtaking and with the final steep corners it is much more important to qualify at the top of the grid, although there is always the risk of a safety car coming to make matters worse .
Ferrari needs a morale boost and winning ahead of Verstappen’s Orange Army in the second part of a triple-header would set them up for the Italian circuit of Monza next week.
“Zandvoort should be a better track for us. Monza should have the advantage over Red Bull there, but we will try to win at Zandvoort,” said Spaniard Carlos Sainz, who finished third at Spa after starting in pole position.
Mercedes, far from the pace of qualifying at Spa, will also be looking to bounce back at a circuit where the team finished second and third last year with Lewis Hamilton and is now dead. Valtteri Bottas.
Hamilton’s car took a big hit at Spa after a first-lap collision with Fernando Alonso’s Alpine sent it high into the air before crashing, and question marks remain over many possible penalties.
“He’ll be fine, he’ll be back in the Zandvoort fights,” said team strategy director James Vowles.
