'Untouchable Verstappen indicates he should now be considered as favourite'

In Austria, Max Verstappen scored his fifth win of the season and if not for a blowout in Baku, he would have finished first or second in all nine races. Can Lewis Hamilton stop the Dutchman this season? In Austria the Dutch fans were sure not.

Full grandstands in Austria

The full stands at the Red Bull Ring were perhaps even more impressive than Verstappen's victory. The Dutch fans had come in large numbers to Austria to cheer Verstappen on, reports The Guardian. "The glorious, natural amphitheatre of the circuit was swathed in orange-clad fans and enveloped in orange smoke as they lit torches. They had come to see Verstappen really compete for the title for the first time in a seven-year career, and he did." In total, around 60,000 people attended the race.

Campione! Campione!

The Dutch fans let it be known that they are back at the track. "Campione! Campione!" they chanted after Verstappen's victory. "It might seem a little premature to conclude that the title race is in the hands of the Red Bull driver, but with this form and with his title rival Lewis Hamilton once again floundering in fourth place, they might well enjoy one long party until the season finale in Abu Dhabi."

Although the season is still long, The Guardian admitted that the Dutchman is the best of the best at the moment. "With a race that was untouchable, Verstappen signalled that he should now be considered the favourite". The Red Bull driver now holds a 32-point lead over Hamilton. Red Bull Racing extended their lead to 44 points over Mercedes.