McLaren had an unforgettable Dutch GP, as Lando Norris outmaneuvered Max Verstappen. Despite getting a solid head start, the home hero had a disappointing end to the race. Whereas Norris’s second career win could be a wake-up call for the Red Bull squad as the race to World Title intensifies.
Moroever, the Papaya squad’s dominant victory has alarmed the Milton Keynes-based outfit. It is due to a massive gap of 23 seconds between Norris and Verstappen. Thus, the MCL38 is outperforming RB20 on every track. As a result, RBR’s senior advisor is concerned about the remaining races, as Red Bull could potentially lose the World Title.
Marko Skeptic As McLaren Topples Reigning World Champion With Flawless Tactics
The 24-year-old British racer ended the steak of six consecutive GP drivers not winning from the pole. After an exciting start to the race, Norris had an upper hand throughout the weekend. As a result, he clicked the fastest time in Qualifying, claiming the pole start. However, the RBR starlet gave no chance to the youngster in the early stages of the race. Verstappen was leading till the 18th lap. However, despite losing the lead, Norris waited patiently to make a move. The race took a drastic turn, favoring the McLaren racer post-18 lap. The MCL38 was quicker than the RB20, as Verstappen could not retaliate. Consequently, Norris easily clinched a 22-second victory over the reigning world champion. Further, this defeat has left the energy drink-based outfit with endless questions as the race to WDC converges.
Surprisingly, Red Bull’s RB20 hasn’t been the fastest car since Austria, and with McLaren’s recent surge in performance, the challenge to keep up with the MCL38 is more daunting than ever. Lando Norris’ dominant victory, coupled with his pole position lap on Saturday—where he outpaced Max Verstappen by nearly four-tenths—highlights McLaren’s competitive edge.
Therefore, Helmut Marko acknowledged the threat posed by McLaren after the race, stating that Norris now has the speed to challenge Verstappen for the championship. While Red Bull works on developments to regain their pace, Marko admitted that McLaren remains a formidable rival. McLaren’s impressive progress was evident again in the Netherlands, where they continued closing the Constructors’ Championship gap. After Norris’ victory and Oscar Piastri’s fourth-place finish, McLaren is now just 30 points behind Red Bull.
Max Verstappen’s RB20 Struggle Continues To Alarm Red Bull
The RBR Triple Champion’s challenges with the RB20 at the Dutch Grand Prix were not new. The Dutch driver has struggled with the car’s handling, expressing frustration over its lack of responsiveness, often stating that “the car doesn’t turn” and noting that it’s “not the easiest to drive.”
After the race, Verstappen reflected on his difficulties, explaining that he wasn’t surprised by how the car felt during the race. He mentioned that his inputs weren’t translating into the desired actions, making it hard to understand the car’s behavior. Verstappen also faced issues with tire performance, which led to him being overtaken, forcing him to drive his own race from that point onward.