Daily News 19

Tag: Max Verstappen

  • The Numbers Behind Lando Norris’ “pretty insane” Claim About McLaren’s F1 Development

    The Numbers Behind Lando Norris’ “pretty insane” Claim About McLaren’s F1 Development

    Lando Norris has reignited his Formula 1 championship hopes by winning the final Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, a year after his title ambitions appeared to go up in smoke at the same circuit.

    Norris’ victory, following his earlier win in Budapest, was his second consecutive triumph as reigning world champion. More significantly, it gave him valuable momentum after last year’s DNF at Zandvoort.

    His result reduced his championship deficit to 83 points. By comparison, Max Verstappen was 104 points behind then-leader Oscar Piastri after last year’s Dutch Grand Prix. Verstappen ultimately missed out on the title by just two points, explaining why Norris immediately told his team over the radio:

    “The fight is still on.”

    McLaren development delivers major gains

    Norris’ recent victories highlight the progress McLaren has made during the season. The Woking-based team has led Formula 1’s development race in recent years, and its performance under the latest regulations suggests that trend is continuing.

    “I think we’ve easily done the best job when you look at everything from where we were last year,” Norris said after claiming his 13th F1 victory at Zandvoort.

    “We were always going to start behind this season because of how much we focused on last year. It was inevitable that we were not going to start on the pace this season.

    “But for us to catch up, you know, we’ve outdeveloped them. You’re saying on a track like this, almost a second of development from us as McLaren versus our competitors. So that’s pretty insane, and I think that’s the reason why we’ve also come on pretty strong.”

    Lando Norris, McLaren
    Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

    Race-pace data calculated by data partner Paceteq supports Norris’ assessment. At the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, McLaren was an average of 1.34 seconds per lap slower than the Mercedes works team.

    McLaren’s performance then fluctuated. Neither McLaren driver was able to start in China, while Oscar Piastri was unexpectedly quick in Japan. The team’s first major upgrade package arrived in Miami, after which its deficit exceeded one second per lap only in Canada, at 1.10 seconds, and Monaco, at 1.67 seconds.

    Norris attributed those losses to McLaren being:

    “shockingly bad”

    in slow-speed corners.

    Norris credits his own progress for Zandvoort win

    After Norris’ victory, Mercedes suggested that McLaren had become Formula 1’s team to beat. Kimi Antonelli said Mercedes no longer had the fastest car, while team principal Toto Wolff indicated that the budget cap left limited scope for further upgrades.

    Norris rejected the suggestion that McLaren was now clearly the fastest team:

    “Well, they’re not going to say themselves, are they?” the reigning world champion smiled.

    “So, yeah, they’re not going to say themselves. They’re [still] the team to beat even if they just got beaten today, so I don’t think it’s true.”

    Lando Norris, McLaren
    Photo by: Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images

    The McLaren driver also said his own performance played an important role in the Zandvoort result, particularly his decisive overtakes on Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton.

    “I think if I didn’t get Kimi when I overtook him, I don’t think I would have won the race today. You know, it’s hard to say, but I also know how good of a job I’m doing behind the wheel.

    “And of course I’m never one to overtalk about myself, normally always the complete opposite. But for once I would give myself a little bit of credit that I feel like I’m doing a better job than everyone, and I think that can also make a difference.”

    The combination of Norris’ current form and McLaren’s development trajectory has kept his hopes of defending the world title alive, although he accepts that a significant gap remains.

    “I’m still [more than] 80 points behind, so I wouldn’t say it’s that close. But I do think it’s close,” he insisted.

    “It’s relatively close for a new regulation, that’s for sure. It’s definitely closer than what previous years have been with new regulations.”

  • Max Verstappen’s Red Bull Dutch GP Race Suit Up for Charity Auction

    Max Verstappen’s Red Bull Dutch GP Race Suit Up for Charity Auction

    Red Bull is auctioning a special-edition Max Verstappen race suit worn during the Dutch Grand Prix weekend, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting the Wings for Life charity.

    Max Verstappen Dutch GP race suit auction

    Hosted by F1 Authentics, the auction gives collectors the chance to acquire the race suit worn by the four-time world champion at his final home grand prix at Zandvoort. The winning bidder will receive the suit professionally framed and signed by Verstappen.

    Verstappen entered the Dutch Grand Prix weekend after signing a contract extension that will keep him at Red Bull until the end of 2030. He scored three points in the sprint race but crashed out of the grand prix on the opening lap.

    The Dutchman is an official ambassador for Wings for Life. The charitable foundation was established in 2004 by the late Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz and two-time motocross champion Heinz Kinigadner.

    Red Bull Racing CEO and team principal Laurent Mekies, who is also a Wings for Life ambassador, explained:

    “Following Max’s contract extension with the team, we’re proud to be auctioning one of his special edition Dutch GP race suits in aid of our team charity, Wings for Life.

    “This special suit, signed by Max, was designed for what was expected to be his last home race in Zandvoort, as the Dutch GP leaves the F1 calendar. In collaboration with the F1 Authentics auction platform, collectors can bid to own this very notable piece of history.

    “With 100% of the auction proceeds going directly to Wings for Life, we can transform a rare piece of racing memorabilia into meaningful research to find a cure for spinal cord injury.”

    The auction is running online at F1 Authentics until Sunday 30 August. At the time of writing, the highest bid is £37,500.

    Source: www.motorsport.com

  • Nico Rosberg Praises Nico Hulkenberg’s “spectacular” Dutch GP Save

    Nico Rosberg Praises Nico Hulkenberg’s “spectacular” Dutch GP Save

    2016 Formula 1 world champion Nico Rosberg praised Nico Hulkenberg’s “spectacular” reaction after the Audi driver narrowly avoided a high-speed collision with team-mate Gabriel Bortoleto on the opening lap of the Dutch Grand Prix.

    Although the rain had stopped before the race began, several wet patches remained on the circuit. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen lost control on a damp section while navigating the banked final corner and crashed into the barriers. Bortoleto suffered a similar incident but managed to continue after spinning 360 degrees.

    As Bortoleto spun across the track in front of him, Hulkenberg was briefly engulfed in tyre smoke. When the smoke cleared, he found his Audi team-mate directly ahead.

    Speaking during the Sky Sports F1 broadcast, Rosberg highlighted how the 39-year-old avoided a potentially major crash.

    “It just shows how quick those drivers react. Hulkenberg went in; he knew more or less where Bortoleto was, where his trajectory was going,” Rosberg explained. “He has a white wall, but then at the last moment sees him and bam, reacts and avoids [a crash].

    “It was a spectacular reaction from Hulkenberg, so I don’t think it was just luck. I think there was also some skill there to avoid that big crash.”

    Hulkenberg went on to secure his best result of the season by finishing eighth, earning four valuable points for Audi. Bortoleto recovered from his spin to take 13th place.

    Hulkenberg explains Dutch Grand Prix near-miss

    The German driver later described the incident while speaking to Sky Sports Germany.

    “Yeah, it was tricky and dicey. Naturally, I saw it all happen almost in slow motion at that speed.

    “But Turn 14 was simply still completely wet and, on slicks, it’s a bit of a thriller, of course. I saw him lose the car—like I said, slow motion and at speed. But then you don’t know exactly whether he’s going to slide up or slide down, what’s going to happen.

    “And it was clear to me: hey, I have to try to somehow get around this. On top of that, there was all the debris and the smoke from Max ahead. So it looked wild and spectacular. I slowed down and tried to wait as long as possible before deciding which way to go. A sheet of paper would have fitted between us, but not much more.”

    Nico Hülkenberg, Audi

    Source: www.motorsport.com

  • Liam Lawson Praised After Impressive Red Bull Comeback at Dutch GP

    Liam Lawson Praised After Impressive Red Bull Comeback at Dutch GP

    Former Red Bull mechanic and current team ambassador Calum Nicholas has praised Liam Lawson’s “absolutely brilliant” adaptation after the New Zealander stepped into Red Bull’s Formula 1 seat at the Dutch Grand Prix.

    Lawson was unexpectedly called up to replace Isack Hadjar, who withdrew from the final F1 event at Zandvoort because of a wrist injury. Despite the short notice, the Racing Bulls driver delivered a strong performance alongside four-time world champion Max Verstappen.

    Nicholas praises Lawson’s Red Bull return

    “He seems to have just taken everything really calmly under his wing, and he’s had a solid weekend,” Nicholas explained during the Talking Bull podcast.

    “For the car that we’ve had underneath us this weekend, he maximised the results that were available with the car he had, and that would be great for him.”

    Lawson’s appearance marked his first return to the Red Bull seat since his demotion from the Milton Keynes team in 2025. The 24-year-old replaced Sergio Perez for the 2025 season but was moved back to Racing Bulls after just two races.

    “It was really important for him to just have a quiet weekend, but do a really, really good job. And that’s exactly what he did,” Nicholas continued.

    “With all the noise about it and obviously what he’d been through before in the car. So to be able to make that hop really quickly at the last minute and do a solid job. Absolutely brilliant for him. I’m really happy for his weekend and for him.”

    Laurent Mekies backs Lawson’s performance

    Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies also acknowledged the difficulty of the task handed to Lawson.

    “It’s never easy to step into a different team, a different car for a race like that, and he’s done a good job,” Mekies said. “He was only one tenth away from Max yesterday in qualifying, and today took the points that were available to him pace-wise with seventh place.”

    Source: www.motorsport.com

  • Calum Nicholas Says Red Bull Lacked the Pace for Max Verstappen’s Dutch GP Podium Fight

    Calum Nicholas Says Red Bull Lacked the Pace for Max Verstappen’s Dutch GP Podium Fight

    Former Red Bull mechanic Calum Nicholas believes Max Verstappen would not have challenged for a podium at the Dutch Grand Prix even if he had avoided his opening-lap crash, arguing that Red Bull lacked the pace to compete with the frontrunners.

    Verstappen crashes on the opening lap at Zandvoort

    The final Formula 1 race at Zandvoort began dramatically. Although the rain had stopped before the start, damp patches remained on the circuit. Verstappen ran onto a wet section while negotiating the final banked corner and suffered a heavy crash into the wall.

    The incident ended the home hero’s race, while Red Bull team-mate Liam Lawson went on to finish seventh and score six points for the Milton Keynes-based team. Lawson was standing in for the injured Isack Hadjar.

    Speaking on Red Bull’s official Talking Bull podcast, Nicholas said Verstappen would probably have finished in a similar position to Lawson had he completed the race.

    “One of the things that we’ve perhaps struggled with a little this year is when we’re in gusty, windy conditions, the car just seems a little bit unhappier,” Nicholas explained.

    “It creates a little bit more work for the drivers and we’ve got to work out what it is that’s at the bottom of all that. But I don’t think it’s a disaster.

    “Liam probably had a boring, lonely race. Big gap ahead of him, big gap behind him. But that was just the pace of the car. Even if Max had completed this race and not had the incident on lap one, I think that’s pretty much where he would have ended up as well, in that space between the frontrunners and those behind us. I really don’t think that there was a lot more to offer this week.”

    McLaren’s Lando Norris won the Dutch Grand Prix, with Mercedes drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell completing the podium.

  • Max Verstappen Shares Farewell Message After Final Dutch Grand Prix Ends Early

    Max Verstappen Shares Farewell Message After Final Dutch Grand Prix Ends Early

    Max Verstappen has paid tribute to the Dutch Grand Prix and his home fans after a crash ended his race at Zandvoort, which is set to make its final Formula 1 appearance after the 2026 season.

    Formula 1 returned to the Netherlands in 2021, following Verstappen’s rapid rise in the championship and ending the circuit’s 36-year absence from the calendar. Despite the event’s popularity, its privately funded organisers faced long-term financial challenges and decided not to pursue a contract extension beyond 2026.

    After the race, the four-time world champion shared a farewell message on Instagram:

    “Zandvoort. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve had here. What once seemed impossible became something really special. It means a lot that I got to be part of it. I’ll always remember this. Thank you,”

    Verstappen entered his final Dutch Grand Prix after signing a contract extension that will keep him with Red Bull until the end of 2030. He scored three points by finishing sixth in the sprint, but failed to score in the main race after crashing on the opening lap.

    Verstappen crashes on wet Zandvoort track

    Some parts of the track remained wet after rainfall earlier in the day. Verstappen, who started seventh on the grid, ran onto a damp patch while navigating the banked final corner and was sent into the barriers.

    The Red Bull driver accepted responsibility for the incident after the race.

    “In the last corner, it was obviously still a bit wet. But in the end, I thought, ‘OK, now there’s a bit of a dry line.’ And then, of course, I accelerated, but still had no grip. And that was quite a heavy impact, but everything is OK,”

    He told Sky Sports Germany:

    “It’s obviously a pity, but generally speaking, I’m just a bit disappointed because we were simply too slow the entire weekend.”

  • Formula 1: Kimi Antonelli, the Boy ‘Born in a Garage’ and Made on the Track

    Formula 1: Kimi Antonelli, the Boy ‘Born in a Garage’ and Made on the Track

    Once Formula 1 departed Europe last autumn, a distinct shift occurred within the Mercedes camp. “Suddenly, we felt like we were making really good progress,” says Andrew Shovlin. “There were signs towards the end of the year. I’m not saying any of us thought we’d see what we’ve seen so far this year, but that we had a decent F1 driver.”

    Antonelli’s Dominant Rookie Campaign

    Kimi Antonelli has proven to be far more than “decent.” The Italian rookie has taken the 2025 season by storm, establishing a consistent supremacy over teammate George Russell. Piloting the class-leading machinery, Antonelli has secured six pole positions and six victories across the opening 11 rounds. He enters the second half of the championship, commencing with this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix, holding a commanding 50-point lead and appearing well on course for a maiden world title. Reliability issues remain the only factor preventing an even larger championship margin.

    Mercedes Leadership Stunned by Pace of Adaptation

    The scale of this turnaround has caught the paddock off guard. “We were all surprised,” admits Team Principal Toto Wolff. “My thoughts were always that he needed to make the experience of knowing all the tracks, the pressure of performing on such a high level under the spotlight of the media, the constant public feedback, whether you’re doing well or not, the situations everyone wanted to be close to him.”

    Wolff notes the absence of a single bottleneck in the young driver’s development. “There wasn’t one single defining factor where I would have said that made it difficult for him, but this year, he knew exactly what to expect. What was really nice to see is that the self-confidence, without feeling any entitlement, has shone.”

    Mental Fortitude Forged in Junior Categories

    Antonelli’s father, Marco, attributes the performance to a “very strong” mentality forged in the junior ranks. “In F4 and Freca, he started with not good results, and he was able to remake everything and, at the end, work hard and win the championship,” he says. “We talk about F1. I don’t know what the spark is in his brain, but Kimi in the past did the same.”

    Peers Validate Rookie Trajectory

    Reigning champion Max Verstappen echoes the sentiment that the current form follows a natural progression. “For me, there was never any doubt that he would make the jump the year after and already be a lot more consistently competitive,” Verstappen says. “It’s normal in the progression of a driver. In your rookie season, it can be quite tough, but at the moment, of course, he’s doing an amazing job.”

    Family Support and Character Strengths

    Antonelli describes his father as his “rock,” a sentiment Wolff expands upon, praising the driver’s “typical Italian family.” “They are caring, they are loving,” Wolff says. “Kimi’s character, he’s gentle, he has empathy, he has charisma, he has the right amount of intelligence for being a racing driver.”