Max Verstappen persconferentie GP Nederland

Masterful move by Verstappen astonishes Red Bull management

20:09, 31 Aug

byTim Kraaij

Max Verstappen surprised friend and foe with his move in the first round of the Dutch Grand Prix. Team boss Laurent Mekies also expressed how shocked people reacted on the Red Bull pit wall.

Max Verstappen is in his eleventh Formula 1 season and by now should surprise no one. But on the soft tires, behind the two McLarens on mediums, everyone knew very well: Max Verstappen will do everything in his power to pass the McLarens in the first round.

Verstappen got off to a good start and it even seemed like he might claim the first place. However, Oscar Piastri pushed him slightly outward causing Lando Norris to regain his position ahead of Verstappen. Verstappen, however, did not give up and did the unthinkable: overtake in the Gerlach turn.

''He still leaves us with no words when you see that''

- Laurent Mekies

At the Zandvoort media center, it caused a shock wave. Not just the moment when Verstappen seemed to momentarily lose control, but possibly even more so when he managed to keep the car on track and above all keep Norris behind him. An action that seems only Max Verstappen could pull off at this moment.

After the end of the Dutch Grand Prix, GPblog asked Laurent Mekies about the feeling on the pit wall and what this says about Max Verstappen as a driver. The big smile appeared on Laurent's face, who could hardly stop laughing while giving his answer.

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Max Verstappen and Lando Norris Dutch GP

Max Verstappen battling with Lando Norris during the Dutch Grand Prix - Red Bull Content pool

How Red Bull reacted to Verstappen's overtake

''I tell you what, on the pit wall lap one, as much as we worked with him every day, we were still amazed by what he managed to pull off. So that's how it was. We were like, how did he do that? And how did he make the move? And how did he keep it on track?''

''It's a bit like in Spa, when he got the McLaren on the sprint start. He knew he had one shot, he knew it was now, and he gave it all. He still leaves us with no words when you see that, so big well done.''

In a season where the title fight is between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, Verstappen shows with actions like this that he is still far above the rest as a driver. He may miss out on a title this year, but he is still the best driver in F1. Something that was also confirmed by Toto Wolff earlier in the weekend.