BARCELONA, SPAIN – JUNE 23: Lando Norris from Great Britain and McLaren, second place, shakes hands with winner Max Verstappen from the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing in parc ferme during the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on June 23, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
McLaren had a fast car in the recent Spanish Grand Prix, with some competitors acknowledging it as the fastest. However, once again, Max Verstappen proved to be the difference, according to Red Bull team principal Christian Horner.
The three-time Formula 1 world champion secured his seventh victory in ten races, starting from second position on the grid, while McLaren’s Lando Norris began in pole position.
This win extended Verstappen’s championship lead to a significant 69 points, with Norris now being his closest rival for the title.
Horner explained to reporters that the main goal was to overtake Norris at turn one, despite George Russell from Mercedes taking the lead early on. The race was expected to be heavily influenced by tire wear, so it was crucial for Verstappen to quickly pass Russell. He pushed hard in the early laps to achieve this.
Horner praised Verstappen’s flawless performance, stating that last year was an exceptional season, but this year is more typical, with a greater challenge to consistently win. Verstappen’s driving skills are making the crucial difference.
In the last season, Red Bull won 21 out of 22 races, making it the most dominant season in history, with Verstappen triumphing in 19 of those races. In contrast, this season has already seen four different winners, including Norris in Miami, and four different pole positions in the last four races. Red Bull has only recorded the fastest lap twice.
Verstappen’s teammate, Sergio Perez from Mexico, scored less than half the points of the current F1 champion and is currently in fifth place overall.
Horner acknowledged that Norris would have been a tough competitor at the Circuit de Catalunya if he hadn’t made a mistake at the start and lost positions. Verstappen took the lead on the third lap and then managed to build a comfortable advantage.
The McLaren and Red Bull cars finished the race with a 2.2-second difference, with Norris making a recovery and leaving the rest of the pack far behind.
Horner praised Norris as the most consistent challenger, highlighting his four second places and one victory in the last six races.
Norris, who has risen to second position in the F1 Drivers’ Championship, ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, emphasized that his main focus is to reduce the performance gap to Verstappen, rather than his position in the standings.
Despite being in second place overall, Norris expressed disappointment at not being able to gain more points on Verstappen in the last two races. He believes there were opportunities to beat Verstappen in Canada, but they didn’t work out.
Norris concluded by stating that his position in the championship doesn’t matter to him; what matters is the gap between him and Verstappen, which is only increasing.
He acknowledged that there have always been missed opportunities, but he believes that McLaren has what it takes to win and it’s about bringing it all together. (Report by Alan Baldwin)
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Portugal conquers the Eurocup with an exciting victory over Germany
The Portuguese national football team made history by winning the Eurocup this Sunday, with an exciting victory over Germany. The Portuguese team showed exceptional performance throughout the tournament, and the final was no different. The game was played at Wembley Stadium in London and ended with a score of 3-2 in favor of Portugal.
The first half was quite balanced, with both teams creating goal-scoring opportunities. However, it was Germany who opened the scoring with a beautiful goal from Thomas Müller. The Portuguese team didn’t let it discourage them and continued to press until Cristiano Ronaldo equalized with a precise shot.
In the second half, Portugal came back even more determined and quickly took the lead with a goal from Bernardo Silva. Germany didn’t give up and equalized again with a goal from Serge Gnabry. The game was thrilling and seemed to be heading towards extra time until Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winning goal in the final minutes.
Winning the Eurocup is a historic milestone for Portugal, who had never won the tournament before. The Portuguese team showed high-level football throughout the competition, with special mention to Cristiano Ronaldo, who was the tournament’s top scorer. The captain of the Portuguese national team establishes himself as one of the greatest players of all time.
Portugal’s victory in the Eurocup is a source of pride for the whole country. The players and coaching staff were welcomed with celebrations and tributes upon their return to Lisbon. The entire country is celebrating this historic achievement, which will undoubtedly be remembered by all Portuguese fans.
