When the colorful flags are waving, the journey is probably over the sea. But when the white flags fly, Formula 1 is probably back from the summer break. The Mercedes, Ferrari and Aston Martin drivers behind are despairing of the sole dominance of the long-term winner Max Verstappen in the Red Bull. Eight wins in a row, always finished at least second, 125 points ahead in the championship – ahead of the teammate.
Soon, who would doubt that, the world champion of the past two years will be crowned champion for the third time. The competition? Long discouraged. When Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz waves his white flag, it sounds like this: “Red Bull deserves this success,” says the Spaniard. “They beat us, they dominate Formula 1 in a decent and honest way. Congratulations, enjoy it.”
At Verstappen’s home race in Zandvoort this Sunday (3 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for Formula 1 and on Sky) all the signs are again orange. The enthusiasm he sparked is unbroken, and the entire coastal town serves as a festival stage. The organizer expects around 100,000 visitors every day from Friday to the Dune Grand Prix on Sunday, which would not exist without the racing Dutchman. “Ten years ago nobody thought of driving here,” says Verstappen: “To see the many fans, that’s fantastic.”
New rules not until 2026
The others are welcome to join as long as they don’t disturb the party. They realized that they couldn’t do it on their own. “Hopefully,” says Sainz, “Red Bull will make a mistake at some point. Then I have to be there and seize the opportunity.” Lando Norris (McLaren) agrees: “Once you have to make a mistake.” That’s the mantra of the industry: Red Bull has to make a mistake, then even we can do it win. How long is this supposed to go on? What will be next year? after next?
It is to be feared that the competition will not be ready to question the dominance of the shower manufacturer until 2026, when the fundamentally new set of rules is introduced. Different engines, different aerodynamics. “Before,” says Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, “it will be very difficult to catch up. The gap is very large.” Lewis Hamilton sees it similarly: “It’s very possible that Charles is right. Red Bull are so far ahead, they were probably able to start developing next year’s car before anyone else.”
A circumstance that stinks tremendously for the record world champion. He, who last won a Grand Prix more than a year and a half ago, demands premature rule changes to slow down the industry leader. In the future, he envisions, Formula 1 should determine the point in time at which the teams can start designing the cars for the following season. As a result, Hamilton calculated, the success would not be passed on from year to year. Ferrari man Sainz doesn’t believe in such tricks: “If I were in Max’s place, I wouldn’t want Formula 1 to change anything.”
Sönke Sievers, Zandvoort Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 4 Sönke Sievers Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 26 Published/Updated: Recommendations: 4
Verstappen himself, he claimed in Zandvoort, would not object to having to stretch a little more on the slopes. “You may experience a season like this once or twice in your career,” he says. “It’s more relaxed to win comfortably. But we are racers. If the teams were closer together, that would be good too.” In the first practice session on Friday afternoon, he rode his RB19 through the gravel bed. He still drove the fastest time. His fans made waves. The party can rise.
