Max Verstappen thumbs up
Formula 1 2024 could see a title fight unfold as Max Verstappen will not win even half of this remaining 16 Grands Prix, says Robert Doornbos.
Although Max Verstappen won five of the opening eight races, Red Bull have already been beaten to the top step in the first third of this season than they were all of last year.
Max Verstappen has already lost three races this season
They secured victory in 21 out of 22 races in 2023, effortlessly clinching both the championship titles as Verstappen’s remarkable 575 points alone were sufficient to claim the Constructors’ title.
This year, it instilled fear in rivals who anticipated another season of misery.
Instead, Red Bull have found themselves with a fight on their hands with Ferrari winning two races to sit 24 points behind in the teams’ standings while Charles Leclerc is 31 points down in the Drivers’ standings. McLaren have also won a Grand Prix.
Verstappen proclaimed that the team’s recent loss to Leclerc in Monaco has exposed a vulnerability which has persisted since 2022, as Red Bull’s substantial pace advantage over their competitors is no longer present.
Former F1 driver Doornbos predicts that he will not win more than half of the remaining 16 races.
Doornbos pointed out to his fellow Ziggo Sport pundit, Rob Kamphues, that he had previously predicted Max would win 22 races this year. However, it is clear that this outcome is not going to materialize.
“He is expected to win an additional six or seven matches.”
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Red Bull and Ferrari weigh in on potential title fight
Christian Horner is not panicking despite Red Bull losing more races this season than they did last season, indicating that they will face tougher competition.
He informed the media, including PlanetF1.com, that Ferrari and McLaren are both fast and it was inevitable for them to eventually come together.
Let’s wait and observe the progress of McLaren, as they seem to have taken a significant leap forward. On the other hand, Ferrari’s improvement appears to be more gradual. Thus, it will be interesting to see how both teams perform in the upcoming two or three races.
“Now, as we delve deeper into the championship, it’s time to see how things unfold in the upcoming circuits: Montreal, Barcelona, Austria, Silverstone. Let’s keep a close eye on the races ahead.”
“The task at hand requires endurance, not a rush.”
Fred Vasseur believes that the outcome of the marathon is still uncertain.
“In light of Charles Leclerc’s victory in Monaco, our Ferrari team boss clarified, ‘I did not claim that Red Bull would be the champion after six races. Furthermore, I am not ruling out the possibility today either. With 16 races remaining, anything can happen.'”
It is possible for you to score 500 points before the end, indicating that no progress has been made in either direction.
However, I’m confident that Red Bull and Max never took into account the fact that they were already champions.
“It is an inherent aspect of the game to continually strive for more, to push oneself further. I firmly believe that Red Bull is not complacent and always seeks to push beyond their limits.”
He further commented that the advantage in each race could vary between Red Bull, Ferrari, and McLaren, so they would need to seize any opportunities that arise. However, he emphasized that the competition would be intense.
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