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5最新开奖结果:Max Verstappen could equal 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Sebastian Vettel’s record for nine straight victories at his ho🏅me race this weekend.
Verstappen and Red Bull have been in scintillating form in F1 2023, and there’s n𓆏o reason to suggest wh♒y it would stop at Zandvoort.
Red Bull are invincible in 2023, winning🍃 all 12 ra♌ces so far this season.
More importantly, they’ve rarely been challenged on raw pace - perhaps only Monaco with 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Fernando Alonso was where they were under the most threat.
Verstappen has won the last two Dutch Grands Prix, overtaking 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Lewis Hamilton following the Safety Car in 2022.
Reliability asidꦇ⛎e, it’s hard not to see anything but a Verstappen victory.
Vettel’s record of nine wins in a row was arguably more impressive giv🦄en Red Bull’s advantage over the rest of the field was less, particularly earlꦑier in the season.
However, it’s probable Verstappen will break it - an🌜d extend the record beyond nine.
Who will be Red Bull’s nearest challenger?
More interesting is the battle for ‘bꦇest of the rest’ behind Red Bull.
T𒈔he fight to be the second-fastest team has chopped andꦬ changed between Aston Martin, Mercedes, Ferrari, and more recently, McLaren.
The battle tends to come down to the track characteristics, with Zandvoo🌜rt being a high downforce ci꧟rcuit.
The nature of corners aren’t too far away from Hungary, with low to💎 medium speed corners.
McLaren will be fancying their chances after messing up their aero levels at Spa, while Mercedes were strong at Zandvoort last year ♉- and took pole in Hungary last month.
Ferrari are too inconsistent to know, while Aston Martin have slumped to being fifth-fastest🐻 lately.
Hamilton’s new F1 deal
Hamilton’s contract extension with 🀅Mercedes has stiꦿll not been announced.
All signs are pointing towards 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 years as he looks to win a record-breaking eighth world title.
Mercedes will be keen to retain Hamilton, particularly as he’s held a clear edge over 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:George Russell, but no doub🧔t there will be some disagreement over money, contract length or even marketing commitments.
Hamilton 🔥signing a new deal is a f🎐ormality, however, the longer it goes on, the more questions will be asked.
Who knows, perhaps they’re just waiting until this weekend to usurp Verstappen at his home ra🦹ce?
Unpredictable weather?
As has been a common theme in 2023, rain is forecast for this w𝕴eekend.
At ꦛthe 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 st🍌ands with the risk of rain reducing to under 15 per cent.
Similarly for the r❀ace, at 3pm local ti﷽me, it’s around 10 per cent.
With a sharp eye for F1🍌’s controversies and storylines, Connor is the🧸 heartbeat of our unbiased reporting.
