Written by Sofia Costantino, Edited by Vyas Ponnuri
One of the most special weekends of Formula One starts this Friday, in the, one and only, temple of speed. A circuit that holds a special place in our hearts. So before we get into this emotional weekend, let's catch up on what happened in Zandvoort!
British driver Lando Norris of the McLaren/Mercedes team won this past weekend, ending the three-time streak of champion Max Verstappen - on home soil - by a wide margin of 22.8 seconds, simply incredible.
Norris got his win despite losing the lead to the Dutchman at the start. With a much better pace, he managed to overtake him again on lap 18 (out of 72) and thus obtain his second victory of the season, reducing the deficit to 70 points in the drivers' championship, with nine Grands-Prix and three sprints remaining
Adding to the three previous pole positions, the two leading positions at the start of the Sprint races, he could never maintain the lead at the end of the first lap in any of the five.
This time, too, as on twenty previous occasions in other categories, reflecting his undoubted “Achilles heel”, but which on this occasion - perhaps in the future too - did not matter at all, due to the ability to rectify it during the competition, by having what is undoubtedly the best car on the track now.
He not only proved to be in the battle for the title but also showed us what he’s capable of (and more).
Norris not only ended his negative record, he ended a streak of six Grands-Prix in which the poleman did not achieve victory in the race, which had not happened since the end of the 2009 season and the beginning of 2010.
With all this said, does it mean we have an actual fight for the championship? Is the drivers' championship opening? The answer is: Definitely yes. Seventy points ahead may seem like a lot with only nine races + three sprints to go, especially given who is in the lead, but with McLaren's rapid rise and Red Bull's free fall, anything is possible.
A maximum of 249 points are available to the winners from here on, in addition to nine possible points for the fastest lap in each race.
In the hypothetical - but possible - case that Norris wins them all and Verstappen also finishes second in all, the Briton would still need to get four more fastest laps than the Dutchman to win the championship (currently Verstappen on 295 points and Norris on 225).
Of course, this scenario seems very unlikely, with the many permutations. But, these are mathematical possibilities, and... as anything can happen, it must be considered that even Fernando Alonso in ninth place in the standings and with 50 points, can still be champion.
In addition, each season has its particularities and this one is no exception. In the Netherlands, the third round of the season was held without retirements (a record) and in a row, the 10 final classified finishers were Grand Prix winners (never seen before even in one).
Internal help is starting to be important. Although it is unlikely that Verstappen will get much from Sergio Perez, Norris could use more of his teammate Oscar Piastri, thanks to his ability and available machinery. The Australian, also ahead of Max, would take away valuable points from him.
Norris does not have it easy from the statistical point of view either. Only five drivers in the history of the highest category of world motorsport have managed to win the title in the season of their first victory, the last one 42 years ago. (Italian Giuseppe “Nino” Farina in the inaugural 1950, Australian Jack Brabham in 1959, British Graham Hill in 1962, New Zealander Denis Hulme in 1967, and Finn Keke Rosberg in 1982.)
Okay, it seems tough. But momentum and the change of strategy are factors to consider. At Zandvoort, it was clear that Verstappen started the second part of the season looking after the championship more than the races.
The almost 23 seconds were not a real advantage. Knowing he could not beat Norris with a much slower car (a rear wing setting to preserve tires) with a lot of understeer in slow corners, he lowered the engine mode to preserve a second place and future performance that he might need.
In Montreal, George Russell took pole and Verstappen won. In Barcelona, Norris took pole and Verstappen won, at the Red Bull Ring Verstappen took pole and Russell won. At Silverstone, Russell took pole and Lewis Hamilton won, at the Hungaroring, Norris took pole and his teammate Oscar Piastri won.
At Spa-Francorchamps Norris took pole and Lewis Hamilton won (due to Russell's disqualification).
Last but not least, this upcoming weekend we have a new driver on the grid, the young Argentinian Franco Colapinto, who was a reserve driver for Williams and is now the new driver for the team.
The team said its goodbyes to our dear Logan Sargeant this past Tuesday, it’s never easy to finish the season this way but it are certain he will succeed in the next steps of his career.
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