Countdown to Max Verstappen’s Likely 3rd Straight F1 Title Begins at Dutch GP

The countdown to Max Verstappen's likely third straight Formula One title begins on Sunday at the Dutch Grand Prix. It's the first of 10 races remaining in a season which the Dutch driver has overwhelmingly dominated.

With a lead of 125 points over his nearest rival and Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez, he can even afford to ease up a bit as F1 returns from its mid-season break.

But that's not in Verstappen's mentality.

At his home track in Zandvoort, he will be eyeing a ninth straight win to equal Sebastian Vettel's F1 record from 2013 and 11th overall this season.

That would move Verstappen closer to his own F1 record of 15 wins from last year and onto 46 overall. Despite being only 25 years old he is already fifth all-time for wins, with Alain Prost (51) and Vettel (53) within his sights this year.

Verstappen's near-faultless driving, allied to the fastest car, means some observers are even touting Red Bull to win every remaining race this year.

"Honestly, I don’t think we really think about it too much," Verstappen said. "Of course, we want to win here (at Zandvoort), there’s no secret about that. It’s always very special here, so for sure that’s the target for the weekend."

Cheered on by his Orange Army of fans, Verstappen has won the last two races at the sinewy and high-banking 4.3-kilometer (2.7-mile) track by the seaside. But a mixed weather forecast gives a chance of rain on each day.

"(With) the track, and the weather that is forecast, I think it’s always a bit more tricky," Verstappen said. "We’ll see. We have a quick car, but it’s again about putting everything together to have a really strong weekend."

Perez has won the other two races this season for an all-conquering Red Bull team which has a massive lead in the constructors' championship — scoring more than double the points Mercedes has managed.

A victory Sunday will extend the team's F1 record to 14 straight wins including last season's final race.

It’s not unfair

Some observers say F1 should modify the rules to make this lopsided season more competitive, but Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz Jr. is not among them.

He says it's not unfair, and wouldn't have it any other way if he was in Verstappen's position.

"If my team had done what Red Bull had done, and I am doing the job Max has been doing, I wouldn't want Formula One to change anything because I think we (would) deserve to be in the position we are in," Sainz said.

"They've simply done an incredible job with this year's car and Max is driving at a very high level. He obviously has a bit of margin to do a mistake here and there and still win the race, but he's not doing any big mistakes."

Ferrari has not won since Charles Leclerc's victory at last year's Austrian GP on July 10 — a week after Sainz's win at the British GP.

But Sainz has not given up hope.

"I don't fully believe Max is going to win every weekend. Obviously, I know what my chances or my probabilities are but there's still a probability that Ferrari can win a race this season," Sainz said. "No one's perfect, hopefully at some point during the season Red Bull makes a mistake, and I go into every weekend thinking I need to be there to grab it."

Under pressure

While Verstappen collects points for fun — 314 and counting — Williams driver Logan Sargeant is striving for his first one.

The 22-year-old American is one of three drivers without a point. The other two are Nyck De Vries and eight-time race winner Daniel Ricciardo, who has only had two outings since replacing De Vries at AlphaTauri after he was axed.

Sargeant is under no illusions that his first F1 season could also become his last.

"It's F1, the pressure's always there. It doesn't matter what position you're in, what team you're in," he said. "It's a performance-driven sport and I think we all understand that. It's going to ultimately come down to that, how I perform and how I improve."

Williams uses a Mercedes engine and Mercedes’ reserve driver is German Mick Schumacher, who was cut by Haas for this season and is looking for a seat in 2024.

Practice sessions

Verstappen led the first practice on Friday ahead of Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes, while McLaren's Lando Norris topped the second practice from Verstappen and Williams driver Alex Albon.

There were red flags in both sessions.

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri and Ricciardo crashed within seconds of each other on the high-banking Turn 3 early into P2.

Piastri lost control of his car and spun into the barrier, and his fellow Australian Riccardo went into the barriers right next to him after a braking error.

Earlier, Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg crashed near the end of P1 when he slid into the barriers.

Manchester City’s players were booed by their own fans Tuesday after blowing a three-goal lead against Feyenoord in the Champions League to extend their winless run to six games.

Jeers rang around the Etihad Stadium after the final whistle of a dramatic 3-3 draw.

“They are disappointed. Of course we understand it,” City manager Pep Guardiola said. “They are completely right to express what they feel.”

After five-straight losses in all competitions, City looked to be cruising to victory after going three up inside 50 minutes. But Feyenoord mounted an improbable comeback and leveled the game in the 89th to leave the home crowd stunned.

While the worst losing streak of Guardiola’s managerial career was brought to an end, his wait for a first win since Oct. 26 goes on.

Erling Haaland had scored twice, with Ilkay Gundogan also on target to put City in control. But goals from Anis Hadj Moussa in the 75th, Santiago Gimenez in the 82nd and David Hancko in the 89th turned the game on its head.

According to stats supplier Opta, it was the first time in Guardiola's managerial career that his team had failed to win a game after leading 3-0. It said it was the first time City had failed to win from that position since 1989.

“We lost a lot of games lately, we are fragile and of course we need a victory,” Guardiola said. “The game was good for the confidence, we were playing a good level, but the first time something happened we had problems.”

A win would have moved City up to fifth in the Champions League standings, but the draw left it 15th with three games remaining in the first phase of the competition.

The top eight teams advance to the round of 16, while teams ranked ninth to 24th go into a playoff.

City’s players, including Bernardo Silva, Josko Gvardiol and Haaland looked visibly frustrated as they left the field to cheers from the delirious traveling Dutch fans in the away section of the stadium.

“If you are 3-0 up at home you can never give it away like this. It is what it is at the moment. The only thing we can do is fight back and stay strong,” City defender Nathan Ake said.

City plays Premier League leader Liverpool on Sunday — defeat would leave it 11 points adrift of its title rival.

“We will learn for the future. It has been and will be a tough season for us and we have to accept it,” said Guardiola, who had a cut on his nose during the game. He said it had been caused when he scratched it with his fingernail.

Countdown to Max Verstappen’s Likely 3rd Straight F1 Title Begins at Dutch GP