Home races are always the most special ones. First, the crowd mainly supports the home hero; second, winning offers a thrill unmatched by anything else. Charles Leclerc can tell you what he felt like when he crossed the chequered flag first in Monaco. Meanwhile, Holland’s rockstar Max Verstappen is kind of used to winning at the Dutch GP. Since the return of the Zandvoort circuit in 2021, Max has dominated the track like no other. He clinched three consecutive wins, 2024 could’ve been his fourth, if he hadn’t lost his position in lap 18.

And once Verstappen handed over the lead to Lando Norris, there was no option than to settle down for P2. It still seems like a dream that the 3x champ had a 20-second gap ahead of him. A large part of the issue is with the Red Bull RB20 and not Max Verstappen. Former Ferrari Boss, Peter Windsor strongly believes the Dutchman did a commendable job in Zandvoort, despite all odds. And maybe, Lando’s win was more like a handed-down legacy from the defending champ because he knew he wouldn’t catch up.

F1 pundit analyzes Max Verstappen’s massive gap at the Dutch GP

Winning a race depends on two factors: the car’s performance and the driver’s performance. Moreover, a major responsibility lies on the car’s system and how good the upgrades are. Given the current situation, Red Bull has been visibly struggling to balance their machinery. Persistent understeering or oversteering problems, tire issues, and more have been nothing but a headache for Christian Horner‘s team. Unfortunately, Max Verstappen is facing the side effects of the flawed car. Amidst all the troubles, the 26-year-old is trying his best to perform and surprisingly he’s securing points in every race. The dominance might have shattered, but not his will to chase till the end.

Peter Windsor appreciates this trait of Verstappen’s, the ex-Ferrari boss said, “It’s illogical to say ‘Oh Max was only winning because he was the greatest driver on Earth.’ Every racing driver needs a great car and it’s always 60-40 car-driver. I think Max drove well at the weekend.” Just as we mentioned, winning relies on how good the car is, a driver with skills in a disappointing car can never win a race. Windsor added: “I think from the moment he knew that his tires were going off and Lando was not going away, and his tires therefore were not going off, he knew then that the race was for 2nd place.”

Max Verstappen was experiencing issues from the tenth lap itself. He complained about the car not turning, he faced problems with managing the tires, and things were just getting out of his hands. So when ‘Mad Max’ gave up his lead and got hard tires at his pitstop, he knew it was a done deal. Windsor further explained: “He would have felt straight away, you know, ‘This is P2, I just need to beat whoever it’s going to be Charles Leclerc, Oscar Piastri and that’s it’.” Peter Windsor emphasized that a driver of Max’s quality couldn’t have done more.

In addition to his erroneous car, the strategy to hold P2 like a fort became crucial. Verstappen could’ve done anything to cause an even more disappointing debacle, but he didn’t. But of course, the results weren’t enough to satisfy the reigning champ of F1.

Max Verstappen accepted second place after Lando Norris pulled ahead by 20 seconds

Following the eventful day in Zandvoort, the top 3 drivers of the day, moved in for a press conference. As expected, the homeboy of the Netherlands: Max Verstappen, had the first question for himself. Was P2 the results he was looking forward to? The defending champion candidly replied: “Well, you always try to do better. I mean, we had a good start, so we tried everything we could today, but throughout the race, I think it was quite clear that we were not quick enough, so I tried to be second today.” How can someone as dominant as Max Verstappen settle for P2? It’s nearly impossible to understand the disappointment he must have felt. Moreover, the Dutch GP was the fifth race in a row where the Dutch National Anthem did not entrap the crowd.

Despite dethroning the McLaren No.1 from his lead in Turn 1, the Red Bull ace couldn’t continue to do so. Of course, the start was great, but the finish wasn’t. A lot of lessons and homework are to be done after the Zandvoort embarrassment. Majorly, the Austrian racing team needs to fix their car and help Max take his eighth win of the season. The present scenario doesn’t look favorable, however, knowing Red Bull, they can do any might thing at any time.

Now, it’s time for the Italian GP. Max will be defending his win in Monza, with the threat named McLaren eyeing him closely. The Dutchman is under pressure to give his all. Can he do the impossible? Can Max Verstappen seize a win after two months of struggle? We’ll find out on Sunday, September 1. Till then, share your thoughts below.