Max Verstappen heads to the Dutch Grand Prix this weekend targeting a third consecutive win at Zandvoort, with the Dutchman being unbeaten at his home race since the historic venue returned to the calendar.
The Dutch GP will bring the summer break to an official close and kickstart the second half of the season, where Verstappen has the chance to win a third consecutive Drivers’ Championship.
Most expect Verstappen to claim another crown relatively soon, given that he leads the standings by a mammoth 125 points.
He’s on an immense eight-race winning streak currently, putting him within touching distance of a record currently held by four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel.
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If Verstappen wins at Zandvoort on Sunday, then he’d match Vettel’s record for nine consecutive wins, a record he can eclipse at the Italian Grand Prix.
It would mark Verstappen’s 11th win of 2023 if he is victorious at home, meaning he’s also to breaking his 2022 record for 15 wins in a season.
With Red Bull being so dominant, it’s hard to see who can stop the Dutchman and the Milton Keynes-based team.
However, the 25-year-old has been warned by Zandvoort circuit director Jan Lammers that winning this weekend won’t be an easy task.
Lammers is certain that this weekend could see a few “surprises”, given the unusual layout of the venue.
“I’m not sure of the expectation that it’s going to be a walk in the park for Max,” Lammers told RacingNews365.
“I don’t think it’s so obvious that he’s going to win with one hand on the wheel, so to speak.
“For Red Bull, it’s still going to be hard work.
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“It is a circuit with not such a long straight, while we have seen that there are other cars that with a different layout of a circuit also have very strong sides.
“This is a circuit that is very specific though, also with the banked corners, so I’m curious to see how easily they are going to dominate here.
“Of course, they are always the favourites, also in Zandvoort, but I think there could still be surprises among the other teams.”