The world champion was outclassed in his Formula 1 home race in Red Bull style. World Championship pursuer Norris made sure of that. McLaren looked to a German for inspiration.
Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen is not panicking. His sponsor and Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko took on the role of wake-up call after Lando Norris’s beating in the dunes. “It’s alarming. The team has to work harder, or both world championships are in danger,” Marko was quoted as saying by the specialist magazine “Autosport” after the first race after the summer break.
Even after his fifth consecutive winless Grand Prix, Verstappen still leads the World Championship by 70 points, ahead of his closest rival Norris. However, Red Bull’s lead in the Constructors’ Championship has shrunk to 30 points over McLaren.
Marko: “Coming second nine times is not enough”
But the slap in the face was the almost 23 seconds that Verstappen was behind Norris at the finish. The three-time world champion was beaten in Red Bull style. “Our technicians have to come up with something. Coming second nine times is not enough,” warned Marko.
Zandvoort, Verstappen’s home race for the Oranje, is a track that suits McLaren particularly well. Thanks to the effective upgrade with a new rear wing, Norris was even able to afford to mess up the start again. On tracks where Red Bull and McLaren are closer together, however, the two-time Grand Prix winner from England cannot afford any mistakes. Verstappen will then punish them mercilessly.
Verstappen warns against panic
“This weekend was just a bad weekend. But the last few races haven’t really been fantastic. That was a bit worrying in a way,” said Verstappen, outwardly cheerful. “But we know we don’t have to panic. We’re trying to improve the situation.”
Starting next weekend in Monza, the Red Bull will be fitted with older parts that have performed well in the past. “We still have a comfortable lead in the drivers’ championship, but we have lost a few points in the constructors’ championship, so we have to react,” said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner. “I’m confident that we can do that.”
On the other hand, the question is: Does Norris have what it takes to force Verstappen into a World Championship final? His star driver “definitely has the potential to be a world champion,” said McLaren team boss Andrea Stella. “He can win world championships. That’s a statement in capital letters,” stressed Stella.
Norris wants to emulate Vettel
But already in 2024? McLaren is curiously taking inspiration from Red Bull in its long-awaited pursuit of the history books – or more precisely, from a German. “We talked about it and looked at what (Sebastian) Vettel did in 2013. We said we can do the same, why not?” said Stella.
Vettel won the remaining nine races of the season after the summer break – although he was already the world championship leader – and was crowned world champion for the fourth time in a row. However, the Hessian’s Red Bull was also the ultimate in the industry at the time – but that is no longer the case for Verstappen this season.
In the development race, McLaren has long been at least on par. And Norris wants to continue to capitalize on this. “I have to get better. I’ve worked hard all year and I’m still 70 points behind Max. So it’s pretty stupid to think about anything at the moment,” said Norris about his world championship prospects. “I’m going to take one race at a time and carry on as I have been, because there’s no point in thinking about the rest. I don’t care about that at the moment.”
Source: Stern
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