Max Verstappen won again – his ninth victory in a row. Should we despair and stop following Formula 1? Not so sure…
Let’s agree: Max Verstappen is going to be Formula 1 world champion for the third consecutive year. It remains to be seen at which Grand Prix. Let’s be realistic: Red Bull will win the constructors’ title. It remains to be seen when. Let’s be honest: there is a good chance that the Austrian manufacturer will make the grand slam and win all the races by the end of the season. The table does not make you want to continue to follow the discipline and the demonstration of the Dutch ogre during the GP of Zandvoort, at home, can depress us. Still, there are grounds for hope. F1 can always surprise us like this crazy GP, spiced up by rain showers.
Will McLaren’s comeback continue?
Hit of the summer, the British team is ultimately the only opposition force (limited) to Red Bull. The work of the Surrey heads seems to be paying off. After a disastrous start to the season (17 points after eight races), Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri (revelation of the season) took matters into their own hands. Successful in qualifying and in the race (despite a small failure due to the rain in the Netherlands), here they are at the head of the anti-Red Bull revolt. Zak Brown’s men are back on Ferrari (not difficult), slightly on Aston Martin (no longer too fashionable) and Mercedes (still irregular). To the point of thinking that in case of release of Max Verstappen (we have the right to dream), there is a good chance that it is a McLaren which benefits. Mika Hakkinen, double world champion, warned last June: “I don’t believe anyone can close the gap with Red Bull this year. However, I expect McLaren to make extraordinary progress in the next two months (…) They are going to blow us away with the speed of their car. They might even challenge Red Bull.»
Will Alonso finally win a race?
The start of the season was a dream. Podiums and performances. Back to the future. But the Aston Martin is a shooting star: a podium in the last six races. Outdistanced by Red Bull and overtaken by Mercedes and McLaren, Aston is now only a shadow of the outsider that it was. The light only comes from Fernando Alonso. At over forty, he remains on the lookout as shown by his fourth podium of the season at Zandvoort. While his teammate, Lance Stroll, is struggling to win. He still has to assume his role as leader: an outstanding politician, the Spaniard gives way (too much) to the boss’s son (Lawrence Stroll), hesitating to overtake him, to the point of bordering on ridicule.
Read alsoFormula 1: “Fernando Alonso is a beast”, the confessions of his former engineer
Will Ferrari stop its fall?
After the euphoria and disappointment of last year (four victories and a second place in the championship for Leclerc and Ferrari), there is room for disillusion, even concern. The Scuderia car was born poorly and made little progress. Despite the arrival of Frédéric Vasseur, the rivalry between the two drivers only increased. Carlos Sainz struggles to understand the car, but dreams of being ambitious. Charles Leclerc, capable of dazzling (he signed the team’s three podiums), makes too many mistakes. Does poor performance force him to take too many risks? Without a doubt. In any case, the Reds seem helpless and amateurs: the pathetic pit stop where the mechanics forgot the tires proves it. Vasseur wants to be reassuring: Rome cannot be built in a day. Except that the days are long, the last title dating back to 2008…
Will Perez finally beat Verstappen?
Sergio Pérez rides in Red Bull. Sergio Pérez is second in the championship. Sergio Pérez can claim victory as the team is above the lot. Everything should go well for him. Except that each GP has become a nightmare for the Mexican. Humbled by his gifted teammate, who puts him in sight for a second in qualifying and much more in the race, Sergio Pérez has lost confidence and seems struggling at the wheel of his racing car. He is also sacrificed by his team who will always prefer the prodigal son to him. Will he rebel and finally reveal himself when Verstappen’s title is confirmed? We hope so for him.
Alpine, is the change now?
On paper the duo was beautiful and promising: two Normans driving a French car. But you should never rely on promises written on paper. The start of the season was a cross (except for the clearing in Monaco with Esteban Ocon’s podium) marked by abandonments, failures and rants from the boss, Laurent Rossi… who was finally dismissed. We clear it all and start again ? The change is bearing fruit: the podium for Gasly (3rd), under dantesque conditions, brings a smile back to Alpine, Normandy and France. After the rain, comes the good weather?
Williams, the awakening of a legend
The last podium for a Williams (9 constructor championship titles) dates back to the Azerbaijan GP in 2017. Since then, the seasons have followed and resembled each other. Frank Williams’ iconic team (sold in 2020 to the Dorilton Capital fund) has not scored more than 23 points for six years. Big names can die. But for a few races, the signs of a rebirth appear. Alex Albon multiplies the exploits, especially in qualifying. Efficient and fast (the FW45 is a rocket in a straight line), the Thai driver proves his immense talent and can achieve good results by the end of the season. Will a new era dawn?
