Max Verstappen doesn’t let the latest affair surrounding Red Bull and the renovation of his company car, which has been ailing for months, bother him as a world champion.
Before the signpost duel in the final Formula 1 title fight with Lando Norris at the US Grand Prix in Texas, a special device in the three-time champion’s car caused a stir. “If it helped them, if they used it the way people think they did, maybe it could shift in our direction,” Norris said. So advantage for the Brit in the World Cup fight?
What’s with the ominous part?
According to media reports, the device was used to adjust the height of the front underbody from the cockpit – during the so-called “parc fermé conditions”, which mean nothing other than that any work on the car and changes to the setup are prohibited. “Lando Norris gets a boost in the World Cup fight with Max Verstappen as the controversial Red Bull device is banned,” wrote the British Daily Mail.
Red Bull also admitted the existence of the device, but it was not accessible when the car was installed. Verstappen and his Mexican teammate Sergio Pérez reiterated this for their part. When he read the story, “I thought that other teams were doing something like that. And then I found out that it had to do with our team,” said Verstappen. But nothing changes for them.
But the matter is not over for Red Bull’s worst rival. “I still have a few questions to understand this better,” said McLaren managing director Zak Brown, adding: “Why is it sealed at all if you can’t use it when the car is assembled?” If there have been violations of the parc fermé rules, this must have massive consequences.
The changes that matter
Verstappen still has a 52-point lead. A driver can score a maximum of 34 points this weekend in Texas alone thanks to the additional sprint race. Whether the Dutchman can continue his winning streak at least in the 100 kilometer decisions after three successes in three sprints this year will largely depend on the upgrades to his car. To what extent McLaren will convert its own car, which has so far been so strong, remains to be seen. Upgrades don’t always make things faster, on the contrary. In any case, Norris is confident: “We should be top everywhere.”
The teammate who matters
Norris also needs support in his race to catch up. The more drivers come between him and Verstappen, the better, the lower the points scored by the Dutchman, who has been waiting for his 62nd Grand Prix victory since the end of June. In his own team, Norris can be sure: Oscar Piastri will be at his side. And the Australian is so good that Verstappen even thinks he is “too good” as number two. An assessment that Piastri should like and one that could trigger further discussions among his opponent.
It’s also good for Norris that Mercedes is back at the forefront with record world champions Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, as is Ferrari. However, all of these can also be disadvantageous for Norris if Verstappen and some of those ahead of him finish.
Danger: starting place penalties
Verstappen has already put it behind him. Because of the installation of the first additional engine beyond the permitted limit of four engines, he was penalized by 10 positions on the starting grid at his almost home race in Belgium. Any further use of a new engine will be sanctioned with five starting places. Norris hasn’t used an additional one yet, so he would have to move back ten positions.
Who is the cooler?
Clear advantage for Verstappen. He knows how the title fight works, on and off the track. Despite all the headlines surrounding Red Bull this year, the 27-year-old delivered. The fact that he still has such a lead is thanks to his ability and his maturity, which he achieved with the first of his three titles at the latest, when he won the dramatic nerve and poison duel with Hamilton around three years ago.
Even now the situation is anything but conflict-free. “Trouble with the FIA, the legality of his car under criticism and the hunt for his fourth title – there is no moment of peace for Max Verstappen,” wrote “AD” from his home country of the Netherlands, quoting him as saying: “I’m alive Just my life, just keep going.”
And his challenger? “Norris has a weak start and he’s not the strongest in the head,” teased Red Bull’s motorsport advisor Helmut Marko at “oe24.at”. Most recently in Singapore, Norris made a few mistakes on the way to victory. The 24-year-old also openly said that he could hardly eat or drink anything on race day. And in Austin he said: Even if he ends up second in the World Cup, they could be proud of this year.
Source: www.sport.de
