Verstappen finally defeated at home: “Pretty clear we weren't fast enough”

Max Verstappen missed the four in a row at home. For the first time since the return of the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort to the calendar of the Formula 1, in 2021, the Dutchman was beaten on his home soil. The three-time world champion was unable to do anything against a Lando Norris overexcited and probably vengeful after his failed departure.

Starting on the front row, Max Verstappen quickly took the lead of the race from the first corner after yet another missed launch from Lando Norris this season. In front of a delirious crowd, however, the pilot Red Bull quickly had to face the facts: the McLaren was much faster. After conceding his position against the Briton on the 18th lap, the Dutchman was never able to keep pace with the leader and crossed the finish line 23 seconds behind the winner, an abysmal gap.

For the fifth time in a row, Max Verstappen does not reach the highest step of the podium but he limits the damage with his 2nd place on the box. The world championship leader still maintains a 70-point lead over his main opponent Lando Norris.

Max Verstappen (Red Bull), 2nd in the Dutch Grand Prix : “We always try to do better… we had a good start, we tried everything we could today but during the race it was pretty clear that we weren't fast enough. I'm happy to be 2nd today. (…) To be honest, I didn’t [prepare for departure] at all. We're making good starts so I was pretty confident we'd get another one and luckily that's what happened. Then I tried to do my own race… but that was my race, and it was a 2nd place today. »

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