Debate: 'Old-fashioned' dominant Verstappen puts Perez a lap behind

Did you see Max Verstappen flying around the Red Bull Ring during the sprint race of the Austrian GP? The Red Bull Racing driver won in a third of the distance of a normal race by more than 20 seconds ahead of P2. The statement after today reads: Verstappen puts P2 (Perez?) a lap behind on Sunday.

In Canada, Verstappen's competition seemed to have made up a little ground against the two-time world champion. That it was a one-off is evident now that we are halfway through the Austrian GP. Verstappen took pole position twice and was thus dominant again during the sprint race, as we have come to expect from him in 2023.

In just 24 laps over the Red Bull Ring, Verstappen almost got to the rear bumper of straggler Valtteri Bottas at the end of the race. Because the Red Bull Ring is such a short track, the blue flags were out quickly with Verstappen in the RB19 on track. If Verstappen is as strong tomorrow, he might be able to put the rearguard on three laps during the three-lap main race.

That probably won't be the case, as rain played a big part in the sprint race and tyre strategy caused bigger gaps here and there, but what remains striking is the gap Verstappen was driving compared to Perez. As much as 21 seconds ahead was Verstappen at the finish. With Perez, there was no excuse of a pit stop that accounted for the gap, both drivers rode the same tyre for the same amount of time.

If Verstappen gets away well tomorrow and stays in the lead on the first lap, and a long fight continues for P2 as today, the number two will have his tyres worn harder and see Verstappen disappear. On the short Red Bull Ring, it is therefore not at all inconceivable that Verstappen will lap the entire field during the main race as long as there are no red flags waving and safety cars coming onto the track.

Do you agree with the statement: 'Verstappen will lap the entire grid on Sunday'? Vote in the poll below and leave a comment on why you agree or disagree.