Max Verstappen’s Tactical Slowdown: A Strategic Push for Red Bull Upgrades Amid McLaren’s Ascendancy

Speculation arises that Max Verstappen may have reduced his speed to expedite Red Bull's upgrades.

"I would venture to say that Max wasn't driving as fast as he potentially could."

Martin Brundle suggested that Max Verstappen may not have given his all at the F1 Dutch Grand Prix in order to push Red Bull into making improvements to the car.

Max Verstappen had to accept second place at his home race, marking the fifth straight grand prix where the formerly unbeatable champion did not secure a victory.

Results of the 2024 Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix

Lando Norris clinched victory with a 22-second lead, indicating that the McLaren might now be faster than the RB20 in Formula 1.

However, Brundle from Sky Sports mentioned, "I would speculate that it wasn't the quickest that Max was capable of."

"He was aware that defeating Lando was impossible for him."

"Falling behind slightly will definitely prompt the factory to speed things up."

McLaren has committed to introducing additional improvements for the upcoming F1 Italian Grand Prix next weekend, aiming to adapt to the significantly different circuit compared to Zandvoort.

Brundle cautioned Red Bull, stating, "Monza is a unique circuit."

"However, I believe that McLaren will perform well at any track."

Red Bull Gains Confidence from Verstappen

Brundle examined Red Bull's recent struggles, saying, "It's perplexing. It wasn't too long ago that Red Bull cars seemed to be performing flawlessly!"

"When you have a car that outperforms the rest in a race, it feels incredible. Every time you check your position, you're leading the pack."

"You believe the car can't be made better. Out of nowhere, someone challenges you and adds pressure."

“When you push the car to its limits, unexpected problems start to appear.”

"Make sure you aren't heading in a mentally unhealthy direction."

"It appears that modifications to the car have undermined the driver's sense of confidence and control."

"Having confidence is crucial for a driver. It helps in reducing tyre wear and brake usage…"

"If you lack confidence in the car, you need to approach it as if you were driving under the worst possible grip conditions."

"When Norris shows up, you need to push harder, but the car can't handle it."

Verstappen remains the leader in the drivers' standings, and Red Bull continues to hold the top spot in the constructors' rankings.

However, McLaren has reduced the gap to 30 points in the Constructors' Championship.

Verstappen maintains a 70-point advantage over Norris in the drivers' standings.

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