All eyes on Max Verstappen at Zandvoort with Sebastian Vettel's nine in a row record in sight
Verstappen set to match Vettel’s record
168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen could equal 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Sebastian Vettel’s record for n🎐ine straight victories at his home race this weeken💝d.
Verstappen and Red Bull have been in scintillating form in F1 2023, and there’s no reason to suggest why it would stop at Za☂ndvoor💞t.
Red Bull are🔯 invincible in 2023, winning all 12 races so far this season.
More importantly, they’ve rarely been challenged on raw pace - perhaps only Monaco with 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Fernando Alonso was where they were under the most threat.
Verstappen has won the last two Dutch Grands Prix, overtaking 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lewis Hamilton following the Safety Car in 2022.
Reliability aside, it’s hard not to see any🎶tꦍhing but a Verstappen victory.
Vettꦐel’s record of nine wins in a row was arguably more impressive given Red Bull’s advantage over the rest of the field was less, particularly earlier in the season.
However, it’s probable Verstappen 🍸will break it - and extend the recor☂d beyond nine.
Who will be Red Bull’s nearest challenger?
More interesting is the battle f✤or ‘best of the rest’ behind Red Bu💯ll.
The fight to be the second-fastest team has chopped and changed 🍸between Aston Martin, Mercedes, Ferrari, and more recently, McLaren.
The battle tends to come down to the track characteristics, wi🐓th Z🍎andvoort being a high downforce circuit.
The nature of corners aren’t too far aw𒉰ay from Hungary, with l♐ow to medium speed corners.
McLaren will be fancying their chances after messin🐻g up their aero levels at Spa, while Mercedes were strong at Zandvoo🀅rt last year - and took pole in Hungary last month.
Ferrari are too inconsistent to know, while Aston Martin hav⛄e slumped to being fifth-fastest lately.
Hamilton’s new F1 deal
Hamilton’s contract extension with 🌼Mercedes has still not ꦓbeen announced.
All signs are pointing to▨wards Hamilton signing a new deal with Mercedes - but what is the hold up?
Hamilton is sure he has what it takes to remain in F1 for four to five y𓄧ears as he looks to win a record-breakingꦍ eighth world title.
Mercedes will be keen to retain Hamilton, particularly as he’s held a clear edge over 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:George Russell, but no doubt there will🃏 be some dꦆisagreement over money, contract length or even marketing commitments.
Hamilton signing a new de⛦al is a formality, however, the longer it goes on, the more ꧟questions will be asked.
Who kꩵnows, perhaps they’re just waiting until this weekend to usurp Verstappen at his home race?
Unpredictable weather?
As has been a common th༒eme in 2023, rain is forecast for this weeke🦄nd.
At the time of writing, there’s ๊a 40 per cent chance of rain for FP1, while FP2 should be dry.
Qualifying should be dry as it stands with the risk of rain redu𒀰cing to under 15 per cent.
Similarly for the race, at 3pm local time, it’s aro🅺und 10 per cent.
With a sharp eye for F1’s controvers𒀰ies and storylines, Connor is the heartbeat of our unbiased reporting.
