Zandvoort has become the ultimate seaside celebration for Max Verstappen’s fervent Orange Army, but this weekend, the Dutch star faces an unfamiliar challenge: his longest winless streak in four years. As the 26-year-old heads into his 200th Formula 1 start, he’s determined to turn the tide on a frustrating run that has seen him miss the top step of the podium since June 23 in Spain.
Mercedes have emerged as the dominant force recently, winning three of the last four races. Meanwhile, Verstappen, who still holds a 78-point lead with 10 rounds to go, has only managed a single podium finish since his victory in Barcelona. The pressure is on as the Zandvoort crowd expects their hometown hero to deliver a memorable victory on his milestone weekend.
“It is always a fantastic atmosphere, and the fans are incredible, so it is a special one for me,” said Verstappen, who is refreshed and recharged after the August break. “We are looking forward to the week ahead and hopefully we can be fighting for the win.”
Verstappen’s teammate, Sergio Perez, enters the second half of the season with added pressure. Despite being the only driver from the top four teams without a win this season, Perez will have to adapt quickly to a new race engineer, as Hugh Bird steps away for paternity leave, leaving Richard Wood to fill in.
“I know what we can extract from the car in the coming weeks and we will do our best to maximise the second half of 2024,” said Perez, whose inconsistent performances have left Red Bull vulnerable in the constructors’ standings. McLaren, with a resurgent Oscar Piastri and a determined Lando Norris, are now only 42 points behind.
Mercedes, on the other hand, are riding a wave of momentum. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has taken two victories in the last three races, while teammate George Russell was controversially disqualified from a win in Belgium. The 39-year-old Hamilton, who is set to join Ferrari next season, has scored more points than any other driver in the last four races, though he still trails Verstappen by 127 points.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff remains cautious despite the recent successes. “We know we have ground to make up. We are not yet able to compete for victories at every Grand Prix,” he warned. “We have made good steps in improving the W15’s weaknesses though and will continue to work hard to take more. If we can do so, then we will close the gap to those ahead in both championships.”
Ferrari, too, are looking to build on their recent progress. Charles Leclerc, who took a stunning pole position in Belgium, finished third after a fourth-place finish in Hungary. With Monza, Ferrari’s home race, following immediately after Zandvoort, the Scuderia will be keen to show that their season is back on track.
As the battle intensifies, all eyes will be on Zandvoort to see if Verstappen can reassert his dominance or if his rivals will continue to chip away at his championship lead.
Photo from Zandvoort Instagram
