Red Bull driver has not won since Barcelona in June as McLaren and Mercedes begin to find consistency
Max Verstappen looks on in the garage during practice ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. Photograph: Mark Thompson/Getty Imageswas laying waste to the opposition having dominated for the past two years. That the sport now returns from its summer break reinvigorated and presenting a potentially fearsome competition in the remaining 10 races is as welcome as it was unexpected.
Fortunately sport does not always follow the script and before the Dutch Grand Prix, Verstappen and Red Bull are all too aware they are in a fight. Since Lando Norris won in Miami at round six, McLaren have had arguably the quickest car and Mercedes have finally unlocked the potential in their previously recalcitrant ride. The season has seen seven different winners as the understudies have elbowed on to Verstappen’s stage.
McLaren's Lando Norris drives during the first Dutch Grand Prix practice session at Zandvoort. Photograph: Simon Wohlfahrt/AFP via Getty Images They have been aided too by Sergio Pérez’s poor performances for Red Bull, putting McLaren only 42 points behind having outscored their rivals for the past eight races. A first constructors’ title since 1998 is on the table and Red Bull’s decision to stick with Pérez for the second half of the season could backfire.
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