The leader comes home, where he won last year, with 93 rental points
Sainz and Alonso seek to adapt to the ‘oranje’ layout and see themselves ahead
MADRID, 1 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Dutch driver Max Verstappen (Red Bull) hopes to continue his triumphant path to his second Formula 1 World Championship with the visit home for the Dutch Grand Prix, while the Spaniards Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) and Fernando Alonso (Alpine ) also have a good time to feed.
Last year the Zandvoort circuit reappeared, after 36 years of absence, and Verstappen took the victory, an important rush for his final triumph. The one from Red Bull has in his hand to defend that title with eight races to finish the season, with a 93-point advantage over his teammate Sergio Pérez.
The champion won last weekend in Belgium, with a spectacular comeback on Sunday when he started fourteenth, although the Mexican was second. Verstappen’s biggest enemy is in his team but he has already shown that he has more than one ace up his sleeve, in addition to last year’s experience where he had to go much further to the limit.
The Dutchman has a margin but he doesn’t know how to go halfway either. After his victory at Spa, the start of the second part of the season could become the countdown to the title if he succeeds again at Zandvoort. The Ferraris have not yet given up the fight and Carlos Sainz transmits his blind faith in fighting until he is a mathematician.
The man from Madrid returned from the summer with a third place and is fourth in the World Cup with 171 points, to the 186 of his teammate Charles Leclerc. Sainz still trusts the possibilities that are given and found to climb to the podium and wait for Verstappen to lower the level or get careless. From behind, George Russell (170) squeezes Sainz, with a Mercedes that sees some improvement also with Lewis Hamilton.
Neither Sainz nor Alonso were good last year on the ‘oranje’ track, seventh and sixth. An Alonso who started the GP apologizing to Hamilton for calling him an “idiot” last Sunday hopes to continue on his winning streak, nine races in a row scoring points. The double world champion was fifth in Spa and, after his departure to Aston Martin became official, he will undoubtedly want to squeeze his experience with Alpine and close it as best as possible.