Verstappen's not feeling the pressure of home race

Max Verstappen sees himself as the favourite for the Dutch Grand Prix. With the RB18, the Red Bull Racing driver has a fast car that should also be competitive at Circuit Zandvoort.

After Verstappen's dominant win in Belgium, expectations are high for the Dutch GP. In front of a home crowd, the pressure is always on for Verstappen. With a full grid in 2022, the support of the (orange) fans will be even greater and Verstappen hopes to take advantage of this.

Less pressure for Verstappen

Yet for Verstappen there is less pressure in 2022 than during the first edition of the Dutch GP since 1985. ''That victory was great and it also takes some of the pressure off having to win the home race. So now that has happened. People expect more from me, of course, but I can't do anything more than is normally the case," Verstappen said to De Telegraaf.

Verstappen understands very well that the fans' desire is still there, especially now that he has such a dominant car in 2022 and already has nine victories to his name. Zandvoort is a very different circuit to Spa-Francorchamps, but Verstappen does not think his team is now suddenly without a chance of victory.

RB18 also good at Zandvoort

''Ferrari will be stronger here than last week, but on the other hand we went pretty well in the race in Hungary before the summer break," Verstappen said. The Dutchman, however, also acknowledges that the victory back then was also thanks to Ferrari. ''Of course they screwed up with the strategy back then too."

If Verstappen wins in the Netherlands, he will once again have a unique trophy in his hands. Pablo Lücker designed the latest trophy on behalf of Heineken and the trophy was shown during a press event in Zandvoort on Wednesday afternoon.