Championship leader Max Verstappen endured a rare difficult weekend in Italy where his Red Bull was simply not on the same level of performance as McLaren, Mercedes or Ferrari.
For only the second time in 2024, Verstappen finished a grand prix outside of the top five positions. It was his worst finish since the Monaco Grand Prix – another weekend where Red Bull struggled for pace, in which he also finished in sixth.
Starting from seventh on the grid on hard tyres among a sea of rivals on mediums, Verstappen had an eventful opening lap. He ran behind Lewis Hamilton at the start, then overtook the other Mercedes of George Russell through Curva Grande, who had run off at the first corner and been forced to take the escape road.
Entering the Roggia chicane, Verstappen took the outside line and found himself squeezed by Hamilton under braking. As he rounded the corner, he was then clipped by Russell on his right-rear, which broke the endplate off Russell’s front wing.
Lap: 1/53 VER: 1’30.354
Verstappen
Verstappen runs close to Hamilton into Roggia Lewis didn’t leave a car’s width…
Lambiase
Yep, that’s clear, Max. We’ve seen it. Thank you.
Verstappen
I mean, I got a penalty for that, so…
Lambiase
Mode ‘six’. Mode ‘six’.
Verstappen
Verstappen is clipped by Russell out of Roggia Check my left rear tyre, because I touched something a bit.
Lambiase
Yeah, that’s okay for now, Max.
Lap: 2/53 VER: 1’26.170
Lambiase
For info, Max, DRS is enabled.
Lambiase
So race update, Max: Piastri, Leclerc, Norris, Sainz, Hamilton. Car behind [Russell] has front wing damage. You know the plan now, don’t you?
Sitting in sixth, the highest-place runner on hard tyres, Verstappen knew he would have to run further into the race before stopping than the five cars ahead of him. He largely matched the pace of the cars around him as Red Bull observed those on medium tyres were experiencing graining on their left-front tyres around the clockwise circuit – something teams had encountered in practice on the resurfaced track.
Lap: 8/53 VER: 1’24.918
Lambiase
Tyres are still creeping up, Max. I’ll let you know once they’ve stabilised.
Lap: 9/53 VER: 1’25.050
Verstappen
Mode ‘six’ or ‘seven’?
Lambiase
Mode ‘seven’ is fine for now, Max. We can trickle the battery up. I’ll just monitor the gap behind to Russell, currently 1.5.
Lap: 10/53 VER: 1’24.964
Lambiase
Currently happy with your sliding speeds, Max, so just keep it there for now.
Lambiase
So Hamilton’s front-left tyre starting to open up a little bit. Just be careful of your gap to him at the moment.
Lambiase
And gap behind: 1.9.
Lap: 11/53 VER: 1’24.978
Lambiase
Strat ‘seven’. Strat ‘seven’.
Lambiase
Okay, Piastri’s last lap was a ‘24.1. Hamilton ahead; same pace as yourself.
Lambiase
Sergio Perez passes Russell for seventh Okay, car behind now Checo, Max. Russell grained his front-left.
“My front-left doesn’t look ‘amazing’”
Although his tyres were a harder compound than his rivals ahead of him, it was soon Verstappen’s turn to experience some tyre wear of his own. While Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton and Oscar Piastri pitted ahead of him, Verstappen continued on and eventually moved into the lead when Carlos Sainz Jnr was the last of the medium starters to pit.
Lap: 12/53 VER: 1’24.968
Lambiase
Okay. Everything has stabilised, Max. But at this stage, don’t think there’s any urgency to over-stress the tyres. Keep it going. Not sure there’s any other taking opportunities just yet.
Lambiase
Okay, Hamilton now suffering a little bit more with front-left graining.
Lap: 14/53 VER: 1’25.287
Lambiase
Just keep monitoring that front-left slip, Max.
Lambiase
Yeah, too much understeer.
Lambiase
And diff ‘seven’ or diff ‘six’ available.
Verstappen
It’s mid-corner, mate.
Lambiase
Torque ‘five’ available, Max, if you want it.
Lap: 16/53 VER: 1’25.244
Verstappen
Erm… My front-left doesn’t look, let’s say, ‘amazing’…
By lap 21, Verstappen led ahead of his team mate, around three seconds behind him. But it was soon time for him to make his first stop. Red Bull fitted another set of hard tyres onto his car, committing to a two-stop. However a slight delay with his right-rear wheel change cost Verstappen more time, to his frustration.
Lap: 17/53 VER: 1’25.340
Lambiase
Pick up the pace as best you can at this stage, Max.
Lap: 18/53 VER: 1’25.469
Lambiase
Mode ‘six’. Mode ‘six’.
Lap: 20/53 VER: 1’25.559
Verstappen
I’m trying to manage it.
Lambiase
Understood. You can pick up the pace, Max. Can I have a flap adjustment for the same stint, please?
Lap: 22/53 VER: 1’29.668
Verstappen
Yeah, I think three clicks.
Lambiase
Box this lap, Max. Box this lap.
Lambiase
Box and ‘pit confirm’, Max. Box and ‘pit confirm’. Strat ’12’ in pit lane.
Lap: 23/53 VER: 1’47.839
Lambiase
Verstappen pits and leaves his pit box after a delay, thumping his steering wheel Strat ’14’. Strat ‘one-four’.
Lambiase
Verstappen leaves the pit lane Could be racing Ocon here, Max. Could be racing Ocon. I think he’ll come past… yeah, Ocon’s come past.
Verstappen
Fuck, man!
Lambiase
So Russell is the car behind.
Verstappen
So how do we do this stint then?
Verstappen
We just get on with it now, Max.
“If we push more I’m going to kill my tyre”
With new hard tyres that were the same compound as the five cars ahead of him but several laps fresher, Verstappen was able to keep the same pace as them. However, he soon received an instruction to adjust a setting on his car, before being informed that Red Bull had reduced his power unit output for an undisclosed reason.
Lap: 25/53 VER: 1’23.801
Lambiase
Fail ’20’. Fail ‘two-zero’, fail, on the main straight, Max.
Lap: 26/53 VER: 1’23.618
Verstappen
I already did it before the last corner.
Lambiase
Thank you.
Lap: 31/53 VER: 1’23.424
Lambiase
Okay, Max, so Piastri is the benchmark at the moment in terms of pace: ‘23.0. We were losing four tenths in total: two tenths on the straights, two tenths in six and seven [Lesmos] only. And there is graining for cars ahead on this hard tyre. Lando’s struggling.
Verstappen
I think [turns] six, seven, if we push more, I’m going to kill my tyre.
Lambiase
Yep, that’s okay, Max. We’ve had to disable some PU performance, which is why you may have noticed the clips increase. Hopefully we’ll get that back for you later.
Ahead, Norris was the first of the cars ahead of make his second stop. He rejoined on a second set of hard tyres, a few seconds behind Verstappen. The Red Bull driver was feeling happier with his second set of tyres compared to his starting set and did not get overtaken quickly by the McLaren.
Lap: 36/53 VER: 1’23.559
Verstappen
Norris has closed to within two seconds When it’s possible to defend, do you want me to race him?
Lambiase
Yes please, yep. If we enter that situation, Max, it would be mode “eight”. And one click of “overtake” available into turn one.
Verstappen
Every lap?
Lambiase
Yes.
Lap: 38/53 VER: 1’23.427
Verstappen
Just let me know the gaps now.
Lambiase
Yep, understood. Currently one second.
Lap: 39/53 VER: 1’23.501
Lambiase
Okay, 0.8.
Verstappen
Can I have my PU performance back, or not?
Lambiase
We gave you half a step, Max.
Lap: 40/53 VER: 1’24.337
Lambiase
0.4.
Lap: 41/53 VER: 1’28.738
Lambiase
0.3.
Lambiase
Norris passes Verstappen along the pit straight Box and pit confirm, Max. Box and pit confirm, Max.
“The battery is not charging”
As soon as the McLaren passed him, Verstappen was called in to the pits at the end of lap 42 for medium compound tyres. As he left the pits, in sixth position, Red Bull helped to prepare Verstappen for an attempt on the fastest lap of the race with his first flying lap on his new tyres.
Lap: 42/53 VER: 1’44.090
Lambiase
Display ‘seven’, position ‘eight’. Display ‘seven’, position ‘eight’.
Lambiase
Max, let’s have recharge ‘on’. Recharge ‘on’.
Verstappen
The battery is not charging…
Lambiase
Verstappen is approaching the final corner It’ll be fine now, Max. Just go recharge ‘off’ at turn 11 [Alboreto]. It’ll be strat ‘one’ and mode ‘one’. Strat ‘one’, mode ‘one’… mode ‘two’, correction. Fastest lap is a ‘22.0. That’s 1.4 on your dash.
Lap: 44/53 VER: 1’23.045
Lambiase
Verstappen posts a new fastest lap with a 1’21.745 Okay, that’s strat ‘ten’, mode ‘eight’. Now give the tyres a rest. Strat ‘ten’, mode ‘eight’. Gap behind: 6.3. Ten laps remaining, including this one, Max.
“Can the people in the background please be awake?”
With a new fastest lap of the race, Verstappen was 13 seconds adrift of Hamilton ahead of him. Of more pressing concern was Russell behind him, in what was likely to be a faster Mercedes, as Verstappen had to be careful not to take too much out of his mediums before the end of the race. That was the reason for his testy message, played on the world feed, reminding the team to stay sharp.
Lap: 45/53 VER: 1’23.363
Lambiase
So gap behind, 6.2. Currently same pace as Russell. Just give that front-left a breather: [turns] six, seven, 11.
Lap: 46/53 VER: 1’22.941
Lambiase
Strat ’11’. Strat ‘one-one’.
Lambiase
Okay, so gap behind: 5.6. Russell pace: ‘22.7.
Verstappen
Yes, I have to push!
Lap: 47/53 VER: 1’22.520
Lambiase
Okay, Max, so that’s seven laps remaining. The gap is five seconds. Russell: ‘22.4.
Verstappen
Can I get out of mode ‘eight’?
Lambiase
Mode ‘seven’. Mode ‘seven’.
Verstappen
Can the people in the background please be awake? I know this is a shit position, but it’s important.
Lap: 48/53 VER: 1’22.570
Lambiase
Yes, copy that, Max. For info, pace is absolutely fine like this. Good job.
“This power is very slow”
Entering the final laps, Verstappen was managing to keep his tyres in a good condition and Russell at bay at the same time. But when Aston Martin decided to pit Lance Stroll towards the back of the field for new soft tyres, Red Bull became concerned that their fastest lap may be in jeopardy.
Lap: 50/53 VER: 1’22.585
Verstappen
How many laps?
Lambiase
Four laps to go. Four seconds behind. Just avoid any lock ups into big braking zones, Max.
Verstappen
This power is very slow, no?
Lambiase
It’s fast enough to get us to the end before Russell, Max. Three laps to go, 3.5 behind.
Lap: 52/53 VER: 1’22.920
Lambiase
So Max, Stroll out-lap – new soft. Gap to him at the moment is 1.5. Manage that so he doesn’t DRS you down to turn one and then we can manage our pace on the final lap.
Verstappen
Is he in the points?
Lambiase
No he’s not. He’s now dropped behind Russell, so keep up the pace. Gap behind: three seconds. For info, Russell has grained his front-left, or started to open up, anyway. Three seconds behind.
At the end of a difficult weekend where Red Bull lacked the pace of their rivals, Verstappen reached the chequered flag in sixth place, just 1.7 seconds ahead of Russell. He was almost 38 seconds behind winner Charles Leclerc and had dropped eight points to closest driver Norris in the championship, with the McLaren driver taking the fastest lap point away on the final lap of the race.
Lap: 53/53 VER: 1’23.711
Lambiase
This will be final lap, Max.
Chequered flag
Lambiase
Verstappen takes the chequered flag Good job, Max. That was P6. Top three: Leclerc, Piastri, Norris.
Lambiase
So fail ’84’.
Horner
That was a good drive, Max. I’m sorry we couldn’t give you a better car this weekend, but a very good drive from you.
Verstappen
Yeah, a tough race. I guess everything just went against us. I mean, not the power we wanted, not the pace, not the pit stops… But yeah. We have to work hard to change the car around.
Horner
Yep. We will. We will.
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I get that Max can be frustrated when he’s back in the pack fighting for 6th place, but if I were one of the team members back at the factory and heard him saying things like ‘Can the people in the background please be awake?’ I’d be absolutely furious. He’s implying that the dozens of unseen and uncelebrated engineers/strategists who make his championships possible are ‘asleep’ and contributing to his current predicament.
What a stupid and demoralizing thing to say to your team over the radio, for all the world to hear.
You are selling Max short… The team forgot to tell Max when he could change the setting back to full e-power after the period of nursing the Battery. The were not “on it” and they should have been… The PU engineers didn’t pass the message to Lambiase as soon as the battery was back to normal. Max shouldn’t have to ask, they should coach him actively.
He wasn’t getting the updates he needed to properly drive the car. That’s what he was hinting at. His insinuation that the team cared less for the lower positions might not be true, but he’s best positioned to recognize the change in how involved and sharp the folks trackside are.
updates are just ‘codewords’ used to provide political cover for the manipulation that is going on behind closed doors. Oh this update, that update, its all garbage, the cars are systems, updates don’t in themselves have much of any real performance increase. Its all just word salad used to explain why certain plots are being driven. For instance, Newey leaving coincided exactly when RBR lost their tire performance/plot. The media serves only one function, and that is confuse, abuse and convince people of lies.
You can’t take a driver in the heat of the moment seriously. Or any sportmen for that matter. The guys at the factory work with him day in, day out and know him better than that.
You make a reasonable point. When you criticise the car, the strategy, the setup, the route of development, you are critisizing dozens of highly skilled individuals in the team who quite possibly don’t appreciate it.
I am no Hamilton fan, but one thing I do admire is is awareness of the effort going on to give him a faster car and is always careful to show his appreciation.
Criticise behind closed doors if one must. To do it in public and expect others to go the extra yard, especially when you always play the “great I am” card, seems a foolish strategy..
Oh please, Hamilton is one of the worst in terms of de facto impugning the entire team when the car is bad. He and Toto as a combo have said some truly amazing things over the radio. Hamilton is in good company when it comes to champions and critical comments. So, this flaw is not at all unique to him.
There’s a lot of things Max has said that I thought were unacceptable in terms of having consideration for all the people working to give him the best car they can, but this was not one of those. Even if they hadn’t forgotten to give him an important update, his statement was not particularly harsh and it is also a reminder that he wants their input, which is better than alternative.
Welll Nick T, contrast Hamilton and Veratappens response to Q3 in Monza. Hamilton said I could have done better acknowledged his error and didn’t blame anyone else.
Verstappen screwed up parabolica when looking set for a front row in his first Q3 run, but rather than admit his mistake, which we all saw, (would be a first of course) immediately was on the radio blaming the car and by extension those who build design and set up the thing.
So now you are going to use one example as the standard for Verstappen and with Hamilton you just ignore what argument just been said to you? Sounds like you’re trying to maintain your opinion without being honest about the facts that have been stated.
Like most idioms “the great I am” has a historical origin, in this case biblical. However when used in current day it does not imply someone is a god or diety but rather of a person who highly values their own self importance to the detriment or belittlement of those around.
No. There have been times over the past year where Red Bull did not have the fastest car or as big a car advantage as expected. Max made the difference. The car seems too far back for even him to do this now.
How about the races Norris and Mclaren should have won in Spain, Canada but Verstappen won? Now I know, you’re just going to ignore me and the facts because it doens’t fit your little narrative….
Hardly Max making the difference in those races Billybob, Norris lost due to the timing of the SC in Canada, and I would certainly not agree the Red bull was inferior to the McLaren in Spain.
Oh, there are so many more. Where to start? 2017 Malaysia, 2017 US (16 to 4), 2016 Brasil (16 to 3), 2018 Austria, 2021 Imola, 2018 Mexico, 2016 Spain first victory, 2020 Silverstone, 2021 French GP, 2019 Austria, 2021 Mexico, 2020 Abu Dhabi, 2021 US just to get started with.
I understand some people don’t like the person Max, which is fine. But denying where he sits in the current field or vs champs of the past just displays poor insight into this sport.
Oh, there are so many more. Where to start? 2017 Malaysia, 2017 US (16 to 4), 2016 Brasil (16 to 3), 2018 Austria, 2021 Imola, 2018 Mexico, 2016 Spain first victory, 2020 Silverstone, 2021 French GP, 2019 Austria, 2021 Mexico, 2020 Abu Dhabi, 2021 US just to get started with.
I understand some people don’t like the person Max, which is fine. But denying where he sits in the current field or vs champs of the past just displays poor insight into this sport.
If you read it again, the question was over the past year
As your reply was a little condescending and tetchy I will point out that Spain 2020 is not an example of Max winning in inferior equipment.
Max was second to DR until the team stopped Dan a second time and Dan also got a puncture. Solid drive by Max but only special for him being youngest driver. On the day he won only by others misfortune Mercs and his own teammate who was beating him in the same car.
Perhaps check your “history”
I’d like to be able to say yes, but no. He isn’t even close to decidedly ordinary. However, what it does remind people of is that no matter how great a driver is, they can’t win by themselves. It seems obvious, but as has been the case with other drivers in the midst of a huge WDC streak, people begin to go overboard and say silly things like he’s untouchable, he’s in a league of his own, etc., etc. OTH, depending on how much Alonso and Lewis have lost due to age, he may be in a league of his own. Because I don’t think any of the other young superstars can beat Max without a solid advantage in car performance.
Nick you have rather very short memory? 2021, ham had equal if not inferior car to max, and he not only matched but outperformed him despite huge car advantage. With only FIA shambles and intervention and a little help from his teammate he could beat ham to the wdc. Not too mention, max never accepts responsibility for mistakes or outright dangerous driving, or acknowledge team more than the team does for him! It s always car or team or other drivers to blame for everything everytime things don’t go his way. Does he have talent? If not he would be playing Mario art instead of f1. Has he been beaten by team mates, many times! Now his advantage with the car disappeared, not much faster than Sergio. I don’t think your superstar really applies. Ham everything max did and twice as much. Yet, in the super aero era, he won in a car designed for him or around him, makes him special? Really? Did he race against Alonso in the same machinery? Then we can have a reference to compare. Unless your reference is Segio, yeah he is exceptionally good against checo!
I am not even going to read past your second sentence because literally all I said was:
-Max, like every other great driver, can’t win by themselves. They need a car that is at least close to the best car. So, I know you’re not disagreeing with that..
AND
-and that Lewis and/or Alonso might be too old now to beat Max in even cars, but are still likely the next best drivers in F1. I didn’t even say that this IS the case. Only that it MIGHT be the case for. Since, I know Lewis is the only thing u care about, I said nothing about how good he was in the past, about how he did in the 2021 season vs Max, etc. So, literally nothing I said was a negative judgment on Lewis.
No he really isn’t, you’re not paying attention, he still is leading he still is performing to the maximum. Whee as a certain 7time worldchampion is not even capable of winning form his teammate anymore…
I was actually thinking exactly the opposite and appreciate where he gets it despite its flaws. It is quite impressive and it explains the huge dominance he can display when handed a good car.
Icarus
3rd September 2024, 13:36
I get that Max can be frustrated when he’s back in the pack fighting for 6th place, but if I were one of the team members back at the factory and heard him saying things like ‘Can the people in the background please be awake?’ I’d be absolutely furious. He’s implying that the dozens of unseen and uncelebrated engineers/strategists who make his championships possible are ‘asleep’ and contributing to his current predicament.
What a stupid and demoralizing thing to say to your team over the radio, for all the world to hear.
w0o0dy (@w0o0dy)
3rd September 2024, 14:09
You are selling Max short… The team forgot to tell Max when he could change the setting back to full e-power after the period of nursing the Battery. The were not “on it” and they should have been… The PU engineers didn’t pass the message to Lambiase as soon as the battery was back to normal. Max shouldn’t have to ask, they should coach him actively.
Patrick (@anunaki)
3rd September 2024, 14:11
The “people in the back” forgot to tell him that he could go back to a faster engine mode. That’s what this was about
MichaelN
3rd September 2024, 14:47
He wasn’t getting the updates he needed to properly drive the car. That’s what he was hinting at. His insinuation that the team cared less for the lower positions might not be true, but he’s best positioned to recognize the change in how involved and sharp the folks trackside are.
pcxmac (@pcxmac)
4th September 2024, 9:55
updates are just ‘codewords’ used to provide political cover for the manipulation that is going on behind closed doors. Oh this update, that update, its all garbage, the cars are systems, updates don’t in themselves have much of any real performance increase. Its all just word salad used to explain why certain plots are being driven. For instance, Newey leaving coincided exactly when RBR lost their tire performance/plot. The media serves only one function, and that is confuse, abuse and convince people of lies.
Billybob
4th September 2024, 13:16
Are you ok? You don’t make any sense…
Osnola
6th September 2024, 19:33
He donald is that you?
Good luck with the elections, you will need it.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
3rd September 2024, 15:07
You can’t take a driver in the heat of the moment seriously. Or any sportmen for that matter. The guys at the factory work with him day in, day out and know him better than that.
Davethechicken
3rd September 2024, 22:25
You make a reasonable point. When you criticise the car, the strategy, the setup, the route of development, you are critisizing dozens of highly skilled individuals in the team who quite possibly don’t appreciate it.
I am no Hamilton fan, but one thing I do admire is is awareness of the effort going on to give him a faster car and is always careful to show his appreciation.
Criticise behind closed doors if one must. To do it in public and expect others to go the extra yard, especially when you always play the “great I am” card, seems a foolish strategy..
Nick T.
4th September 2024, 0:03
Oh please, Hamilton is one of the worst in terms of de facto impugning the entire team when the car is bad. He and Toto as a combo have said some truly amazing things over the radio. Hamilton is in good company when it comes to champions and critical comments. So, this flaw is not at all unique to him.
There’s a lot of things Max has said that I thought were unacceptable in terms of having consideration for all the people working to give him the best car they can, but this was not one of those. Even if they hadn’t forgotten to give him an important update, his statement was not particularly harsh and it is also a reminder that he wants their input, which is better than alternative.
Davethechicken
4th September 2024, 6:59
Welll Nick T, contrast Hamilton and Veratappens response to Q3 in Monza. Hamilton said I could have done better acknowledged his error and didn’t blame anyone else.
Verstappen screwed up parabolica when looking set for a front row in his first Q3 run, but rather than admit his mistake, which we all saw, (would be a first of course) immediately was on the radio blaming the car and by extension those who build design and set up the thing.
Billybob
4th September 2024, 13:16
So now you are going to use one example as the standard for Verstappen and with Hamilton you just ignore what argument just been said to you? Sounds like you’re trying to maintain your opinion without being honest about the facts that have been stated.
Davethechicken
4th September 2024, 15:11
@billybob
Do you have any examples of MV taking ownership of a mistake to counter the argument, where he said sorry guys I messed up?
Crawliin-from-the-wreckage (@davedai)
4th September 2024, 6:04
A biblical quote Max referring to himself as God? I think not.
Davethechicken
4th September 2024, 6:37
“it’s quite impressive how we let ourselves get undercut,” “It’s completely f—ed my race.”
“You guys gave me this s— strategy, OK? I’m trying to rescue what’s left. F—.””
Davethechicken
4th September 2024, 10:04
Like most idioms “the great I am” has a historical origin, in this case biblical. However when used in current day it does not imply someone is a god or diety but rather of a person who highly values their own self importance to the detriment or belittlement of those around.
Mayrton
5th September 2024, 7:33
Sorry, but if one is famous for throwing the entire team under the bus it is Lewis. Know you history please.
Osnola
6th September 2024, 19:34
You are joking..not?
Lewis is one of the worst in this regard. Including renarks about sabotage…
FlyingLap (@flyinglapp)
3rd September 2024, 15:32
Without the fastest car Max is decidedly ordinary, isn’t he?
Ucat33 (@ucat33)
3rd September 2024, 17:07
No.
Doh
3rd September 2024, 17:27
Unfortunately F1 is one of the most fake sports on the planet
pcxmac (@pcxmac)
4th September 2024, 9:58
Bernie sold out to a bunch of clowns named Liberty and Toto Wolff.
An Sionnach
3rd September 2024, 17:57
No. There have been times over the past year where Red Bull did not have the fastest car or as big a car advantage as expected. Max made the difference. The car seems too far back for even him to do this now.
Davethechicken
3rd September 2024, 22:27
Any examples?
Billybob
4th September 2024, 13:22
How about the races Norris and Mclaren should have won in Spain, Canada but Verstappen won? Now I know, you’re just going to ignore me and the facts because it doens’t fit your little narrative….
Davethechicken
4th September 2024, 15:22
Hardly Max making the difference in those races Billybob, Norris lost due to the timing of the SC in Canada, and I would certainly not agree the Red bull was inferior to the McLaren in Spain.
Mayrton
5th September 2024, 7:50
Oh, there are so many more. Where to start? 2017 Malaysia, 2017 US (16 to 4), 2016 Brasil (16 to 3), 2018 Austria, 2021 Imola, 2018 Mexico, 2016 Spain first victory, 2020 Silverstone, 2021 French GP, 2019 Austria, 2021 Mexico, 2020 Abu Dhabi, 2021 US just to get started with.
I understand some people don’t like the person Max, which is fine. But denying where he sits in the current field or vs champs of the past just displays poor insight into this sport.
Mayrton
5th September 2024, 7:51
Oh, there are so many more. Where to start? 2017 Malaysia, 2017 US (16 to 4), 2016 Brasil (16 to 3), 2018 Austria, 2021 Imola, 2018 Mexico, 2016 Spain first victory, 2020 Silverstone, 2021 French GP, 2019 Austria, 2021 Mexico, 2020 Abu Dhabi, 2021 US just to get started with.
I understand some people don’t like the person Max, which is fine. But denying where he sits in the current field or vs champs of the past just displays poor insight into this sport.
Davethechicken
5th September 2024, 16:56
If you read it again, the question was over the past year
As your reply was a little condescending and tetchy I will point out that Spain 2020 is not an example of Max winning in inferior equipment.
Max was second to DR until the team stopped Dan a second time and Dan also got a puncture. Solid drive by Max but only special for him being youngest driver. On the day he won only by others misfortune Mercs and his own teammate who was beating him in the same car.
Perhaps check your “history”
NoName (@noname)
3rd September 2024, 19:36
@flyinglapp Yep, overrated if you ask me
Urvaksh (@thedoctor03)
3rd September 2024, 22:56
No.
Urvaksh (@thedoctor03)
3rd September 2024, 22:55
No.
Nick T.
4th September 2024, 0:11
I’d like to be able to say yes, but no. He isn’t even close to decidedly ordinary. However, what it does remind people of is that no matter how great a driver is, they can’t win by themselves. It seems obvious, but as has been the case with other drivers in the midst of a huge WDC streak, people begin to go overboard and say silly things like he’s untouchable, he’s in a league of his own, etc., etc. OTH, depending on how much Alonso and Lewis have lost due to age, he may be in a league of his own. Because I don’t think any of the other young superstars can beat Max without a solid advantage in car performance.
mystic one (@mysticus)
5th September 2024, 9:48
Nick you have rather very short memory? 2021, ham had equal if not inferior car to max, and he not only matched but outperformed him despite huge car advantage. With only FIA shambles and intervention and a little help from his teammate he could beat ham to the wdc. Not too mention, max never accepts responsibility for mistakes or outright dangerous driving, or acknowledge team more than the team does for him! It s always car or team or other drivers to blame for everything everytime things don’t go his way. Does he have talent? If not he would be playing Mario art instead of f1. Has he been beaten by team mates, many times! Now his advantage with the car disappeared, not much faster than Sergio. I don’t think your superstar really applies. Ham everything max did and twice as much. Yet, in the super aero era, he won in a car designed for him or around him, makes him special? Really? Did he race against Alonso in the same machinery? Then we can have a reference to compare. Unless your reference is Segio, yeah he is exceptionally good against checo!
Nick T.
5th September 2024, 16:12
I am not even going to read past your second sentence because literally all I said was:
-Max, like every other great driver, can’t win by themselves. They need a car that is at least close to the best car. So, I know you’re not disagreeing with that..
AND
-and that Lewis and/or Alonso might be too old now to beat Max in even cars, but are still likely the next best drivers in F1. I didn’t even say that this IS the case. Only that it MIGHT be the case for. Since, I know Lewis is the only thing u care about, I said nothing about how good he was in the past, about how he did in the 2021 season vs Max, etc. So, literally nothing I said was a negative judgment on Lewis.
So, yeah, maybe take some meds.
Craig
4th September 2024, 12:25
I will always grant that Verstappen is good but he’s no where near this god driver people have desperately tried to make him out to be.
Billybob
4th September 2024, 13:18
No he really isn’t, you’re not paying attention, he still is leading he still is performing to the maximum. Whee as a certain 7time worldchampion is not even capable of winning form his teammate anymore…
mystic one (@mysticus)
5th September 2024, 9:37
Flipflop, you have too much wishful thinking.
Steve (@scbriml)
8th September 2024, 20:50
Hamilton still winning races. Checks WDC… yep, still ahead of Mr Saturday.
Mayrton
5th September 2024, 7:34
I was actually thinking exactly the opposite and appreciate where he gets it despite its flaws. It is quite impressive and it explains the huge dominance he can display when handed a good car.
Coventry Climax
4th September 2024, 16:59
So glad this was all taken into account when he was awarded his 6 driver weekend performance points here, by the same writer, by the way.
Mayrton
5th September 2024, 7:35
Hahaha, good point
Steven Williamson
11th September 2024, 5:19
“PU performance” – code for asymmetrical braking system.