Dutch pundits discuss the title fight: "He is not that strong mentally"

The Miami Grand Prix had another exciting battle between Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen in the closing stages. Ziggo analysts Jack Plooij and Olav Mol think the Ferrari driver is mentally losing out to the Red Bull Racing driver.

Verstappen beats Leclerc again

Max Verstappen overtook Carlos Sainz at the start and after ten laps also managed to outsmart his teammate Leclerc. The Dutchman drove a solid race until the safety car caused by Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris came on the track. The restart and sprint race that followed were exciting for Verstappen, because he then came under considerable pressure from Leclerc. The Dutchman repelled the attack of the Monegasque and won the race.

Big mental difference between title rivals

At Ziggo Sport the channel's former reporter and pit reporter, Olav Mol and Jack Plooij, discuss the fight between the two. Plooij: "Leclerc is not so happy. Ferrari had given him an update. He thought: 'Now we're going to do it. And then it doesn't work again. That gets into his head." Plooij thinks that the mental pressure can easily be too much for Leclerc: "He is not that strong mentally." Mol agrees.

Mol: "No. He is doing very hard, but he is less had. And Verstappen is just bang on. I still think Leclerc is not capable, if he has to... You've all seen a driver of which you think: 'He'll drive him in two'. And somewhere Leclerc doesn't have that." Mol also thinks that is largely in his head. According to the reporter, Leclerc needs more thinking time when it comes to aggressive actions on the track.