Max Verstappen has had a dream run during the first half of the 2023 season. The Dutchman has been miles ahead of the rest of the grid and out of his 10 race wins so far this season, 8 of them have come subsequently. Verstappen is en route to beat Sebastian Vettel‘s record of having 9 consecutive race wins when F1 returns to Zandvoort following the summer break. However, as per ESPN F1 expert Laurence Edmondson, Verstappen will have a much bigger concern during the Dutch GP than breaking Vettel’s record.
Verstappen has been in a class of his own during the 2023 season. Such has been his dominance, that the Red Bull driver has won races with gaps of over 20-25 seconds to P2. Therefore it is expected that he will deliver during the Dutch GP as well and win the race.
However, in Formula 1, nothing can be predicted for sure. A single error can destroy the whole weekend for a driver and therefore, nothing can be said for sure. The race at home will surely be nervy for Verstappen because of the increased pressure to perform in front of his fans.
Max Verstappen has bigger things to worry about
F1 expert Laurence Edmondson spoke about how important it would be for Verstappen to break Vettel’s record on the ESPN F1 Unlapped show. Edmondson explained that for a personality like Verstappen, who doesn’t really care about records, breaking Vettel’s record would be overshadowed by other concerns.
Edmondson explained, “I don’t know if Max is overly concerned about whether he has got the most consecutive victories. I think he will be more concerned about making sure he wins on home soil at the Dutch Grand Prix.” He commented further that winning the home race would be a big thing for Verstappen, therefore he would be more concerned about that aspect.
Edmondson also mentioned how everyone in Zandvoort would be supporting Verstappen during the race weekend. It has been seen before how the Dutch GP is almost like a festival for Verstappen, with everyone around the whole circuit cheering him on.
Verstappen will want to maintain his streak
Verstappen has an immensely dedicated group of fans, known as the Orange Army, who are mostly seen during the Belgian, Austrian, and Dutch GP. The Orange Army fans have put up a show during Verstappen’s home race in Zandvoort previously, where he emerged victorious on the last two occasions.
Max will be aiming a hat trick of wins at his home circuit and he is the favorite for that. The Dutchman is on a hot streak of 8 straight wins and will be hoping to extend it with his win in Zandvoort.
