Reigning World Champion Max Verstappen enters this weekend’s British Grand Prix in scintillating form, having won five races in a row.
The Dutchman is unstoppable currently and boasts an 81-point advantage over team-mate Sergio Perez, who’s form is very inconsistent as of late.
Verstappen’s dominant form was on show during Free Practice 1 at the Silverstone International Circuit, which he topped from Perez by just over four-tenths of a second.
The championship leader is certainly the clear favourite to claim a sixth consecutive win on Sunday, something only four other drivers have achieved in the history of the sport.
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Should Verstappen win on Sunday, it’ll certainly be interesting what sort of response he receives from the fans.
Verstappen was booed at last season’s British GP, presumably due to it having been the first-time the British crowd saw the Dutchman since Lewis Hamilton lost the 2021 Drivers’ Championship.
Verstappen and Hamilton also famously collided at the 2021 British GP, with Verstappen having crashed at Copse Corner at very high-speed.
He went to the hospital for a check-up as a result, whilst Hamilton went on to win the race.
Based on their performances in FP1 Friday morning, it’s very unlikely that the duo will be battling on Sunday.
Nevertheless, Verstappen isn’t particularly bothered whether he receives a good reception or not from the British fans, with him simply focusing on what he labels as an “important race” for Red Bull.
“I don’t see this as having to prove anything against the crowd or whatever. I mean, I’m just here to have a good race and try to win it,” Verstappen said.
“It’s an important race for us. We enjoy coming here,” he said.
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Verstappen has won at Silverstone before back in 2020, when there were no fans in attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The two-time World Champion won the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix, denying Hamilton victory.
The Red Bull driver will be pushing for a win on Sunday to further extend his lead in the Drivers’ Championship, something which would certainly see him get a hand on a third consecutive title.