Max Verstappen expects a tough Dutch Grand Prix with plenty of competition
On the eve of the first practice session for the Dutch Grand Prix, the three-time world champion considers this 2024 edition of his home race to be the toughest in three years.
The time has come for Max Verstappen and the entire F1 paddock to resume. The Dutch driver returns to his homeland for this back-to-school period, but unlike previous years, Jos’s son finds himself in a less comfortable position. Blame it on fierce competition that has deprived him of victories for the past five races, including the Spanish Grand Prix at the end of June.
In Zandvoort, Verstappen will want to reverse the trend on a track where he has been undefeated since the return of the Netherlands to the F1 calendar three years ago. On the shores of the North Sea, the Red Bull driver aims to make the most of his car to return to victory.
It seems that there are several teams that can win a race, so obviously, I’m not going into this weekend thinking we’re going to win this race. I just want to have a clean weekend, better understand the car, and learn from it.
The one who will compete in his 200th Grand Prix on home soil will accept the result on Sunday even if it is not a victory.
« You just have to be realistic. If you can win the race, great, and if you don’t have the chance to do it, it means you didn’t deserve it. You have to move forward and try to do better next time. We must first see where we stand throughout the weekend. Last year, I was much more confident coming here but the current season is like that, it is much more competitive.
With a 78-point lead over his closest rival in the championship with ten races to go in the season, Verstappen does not want to think about the final battle for the championship just yet and prefers to take it race by race.
« I’m not really worried. I’m not thinking about the last race of the season in Abu Dhabi yet. I just want us to improve as a team to improve the car. I know that if we improve the car, it will make our lives easier because the last races have been tough.
Dutch will once again be carried by an orange tide coming to support him in the stands of the Zandvoort circuit. Carried by a whole country, will the triple world champion once again reach the highest step of the podium? First clues will be revealed on Friday with the two first free practice sessions of the Dutch Grand Prix.
