Verstappen receives unexpected support from British media after painful Grand Prix

10:46, 07 Jul

Updated: 20:05, 07 Jul

Co-author:Kada Sárközi

bySandy van Wijngaarden

On Saturday, Max Verstappen was marked a 'villain' and an 'anti-hero' after he clinched pole position from the home favourites. After the Dutchman had a difficult Grand Prix, that was not the case.

BBC

"Perhaps the most extraordinary moment came when Verstappen spun before racing had resumed at the restart after the final safety-car period. Verstappen appeared to have been distracted by what had happened a few seconds before in the incident that earned Piastri his penalty. But he said that was not the case, he had simply tried to accelerate and been caught out by cold tyres."

The BBC also referred to the remarkable fact that Oscar Piastri received a penalty for braking under the safety car and George Russell did not. Talking to GPblog among others, Verstappen was also surprised how the Australian is the first one to receive a penalty for this incident.

"It carried echoes of an incident at the Canadian Grand Prix two races ago, when Red Bull protested against a similar action by race winner George Russell of Mercedes, but had it rejected," the public broadcaster published.

The Guardian

The Guardian pointed out in their analysis that the title battle for Max Verstappen is essentially over. After Austria, that already seemed to be the case, but after Silverstone, the gap to Piastri is now 69 points in the drivers' standings for the defending world champion.

"Max Verstappen – who later spun struggling for grip and finished in fifth as his title hopes spiralled further out of reach – early in the race."

The Sun

The Sun emphasized mainly how easily Piastri and Lando Norris went past Verstappen. The Dutchman had more issues with tyre degradation than his rivals.

"There was thrilling racing at the front of the pack though, with Piastri snapping at Verstappen’s heels before easily dispatching him on lap eight for the lead."

"The heavens opened and Verstappen, whose tyres were knackered, ran wide and allowed Norris to pass him."

"Amid all the confusion Verstappen spun dramatically before recovering and dropping all the way back into 11th," they wrote.