Max Verstappen’s dominance at his home circuit has come to an end, and Red Bull’s firm grip on the Formula 1 constructors’ championship is now precarious. The substantial lead they built earlier in the season is the only factor maintaining Verstappen’s status as the frontrunner in the drivers’ championship. Identifying the winners and losers from Zandvoort may be straightforward. Here is our assessment of the key players across the grid.
Loser: Red Bull
Achieving second place is likely the most favorable outcome Red Bull could have anticipated today, especially considering McLaren’s significant advantage in qualifying. The current scenario is clear: there is a mere 30-point gap between McLaren, in pursuit, and Red Bull, the leader, in the constructors’ championship standings.
A significant factor contributing to the reduction of the deficit is McLaren’s ongoing development, while Sergio Perez’s difficulties continue to hinder Red Bull’s performance. The team has now been outperformed by McLaren for five consecutive races.
Although Zandvoort marked Perez’s best finish since Miami in May, he has not placed in the top five since that event, finishing only sixth today.
Red Bull is making every effort to boost Perez’s confidence, including providing additional driver coaching prior to this race. However, one must question how long this situation can persist.
Verstappen also faced challenges during the race. Despite securing a second-place finish, he expressed concerns about balance issues with the RB20 throughout the event.
If McLaren maintains this scoring advantage over Red Bull, it could seize the lead in the constructors’ championship by the time of the Singapore race, which is just three races away. – Samarth Kanal.
Winner: Lando Norris
McLaren has achieved victories this season, yet this particular race marked a significant milestone, as Norris managed to outpace the early-season dominance of Red Bull, securing the largest victory margin of the year. Although Norris experienced a setback with a subpar start, a challenge that he and the team must address for future encounters with Red Bull, it ultimately did not impact the outcome of this race.
Norris’s speed was so remarkable that he effortlessly overtook Verstappen, contrasting sharply with previous races that had felt like intense battles lasting for numerous laps. With a swift maneuver into Turn 1 utilizing DRS, Norris quickly distanced himself, leaving his competitor far behind.
The initial problem requires resolution; however, once addressed, Norris made a remarkable recovery, demonstrating a clear advantage over his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, who has been closely competing with him this season, occasionally matching or surpassing his performance. This victory appeared to come with relative ease.
McLaren’s lead in the constructors’ championship now seems readily attainable, and Norris is also closing in on Verstappen’s lead in the drivers’ championship. – Jack Benyon.
Loser: Oscar Piastri
Piastri did not match the performance level of his McLaren teammate Norris throughout the weekend. On Saturday, he fell short by failing to achieve a significant improvement during his second run in Q3, which allowed Max Verstappen to secure a front-row position in a slower Red Bull.
Then, on Sunday, Piastri found himself stuck behind other cars for an extended period, resulting in McLaren finishing with a one-four instead of a one-two. This outcome disrupts the positive momentum he had built at the end of the first half of the 2024 season and leaves him with much to contemplate before the Monza race. – Josh Suttill.
Winner: Pierre Gasly
Pierre Gasly did not replicate his impressive podium finish at Zandvoort in 2023, but he achieved a commendable ninth-place result that was equally hard-fought. This weekend, he emerged victorious in the ‘Class B’ competition, trailing only the top four teams, although the journey was anything but easy. Gasly made an excellent start, overtaking Fernando Alonso on the opening lap to secure seventh place. He then worked diligently to close a 10-second gap to Nico Hulkenberg, a situation exacerbated by a blockade from Kevin Magnussen and a delayed pit stop from Alpine.
Throughout the weekend, Gasly maintained a significant lead over his struggling teammate Esteban Ocon, providing a strong debut for his new team principal, Oliver Oakes. – JS.
Loser: Mercedes
After securing victories in three of the last four races prior to the break, Mercedes faced a stark reality on Sunday at Zandvoort. The race began positively for George Russell, who climbed to third place at the start, but his performance declined as he fell behind both Leclerc and Piastri. A confusing second pit stop for Russell further compromised his position, allowing both Sainz and Sergio Perez to overtake him. Russell expressed that his car felt like it was on ice, ultimately finishing in seventh place, just ahead of his teammate Lewis Hamilton, who had started nine positions lower.
Both drivers were left puzzled by the poor performance of the Mercedes, hoping that this race would be viewed as an unusual off-weekend. – JS.
Winner: Charles Leclerc
On any other occasion, Charles Leclerc would likely have secured the driver of the day title for his performance at Zandvoort. Unfortunately, the dominant McLaren overshadowed his efforts. However, it’s worth noting that Leclerc managed to keep one car, which is currently beyond Ferrari’s reach (Verstappen’s Red Bull), in check while also outperforming another competitor he was not expected to surpass (Piastri’s McLaren).
In fact, this performance may have been even more remarkable than his third-place finish at the Belgian GP four weeks ago, as it showcased a blend of aggressive tactics (executing an undercut to overtake Russell and Piastri) and defensive skills (fending off Piastri in the final laps).
The caliber of his drive was further emphasized by his acknowledgment in the post-race press conference that Ferrari is currently focused on “damage limitation” until their next upgrade, which is scheduled for the Italian GP next weekend.
If this is the level of performance he can achieve without the upgrade, and if the upcoming enhancements deliver a significant improvement, Leclerc will undoubtedly be a strong contender for a third consecutive podium at Ferrari’s home race. – Jack Cozens.
Loser: Alex Albon
It was a weekend of contrasting fortunes for Williams and Alex Albon. The excitement peaked after qualifying, marking a successful debut for the upgraded Williams. However, just over 24 hours later, Albon’s eighth-place starting position was compromised due to an illegal floor, severely hampering his race recovery.
He faced significant challenges from the Magnussen blockade, describing the situation as “very dangerous.” This incident overheated his tires, eliminating any hope of securing points, and he ultimately finished in 14th place.
On a positive note, the new upgrade for Williams—its first significant enhancement of the season—demonstrated promising performance, suggesting that the team can contend for points more consistently.
Unfortunately, they missed a crucial opportunity to capitalize on this momentum, resulting in a setback in their efforts to close the gap to Alpine, further widening the distance instead. – JS.
Winner: Ferrari
Is this the position Ferrari envisions for itself at this moment? Certainly not. Did the team achieve the best possible results with third and fifth places at Zandvoort? Indeed.
There is considerable focus, and rightly so, on McLaren’s challenge to Red Bull as it consistently competes for victories. However, Ferrari is only 34 points behind in the constructors’ championship, despite a somewhat inconsistent performance that has drawn attention to its upgrade strategy.
This suggests that while there is hope that the upcoming Monza upgrade will help the team move beyond a “damage limitation” phase, such optimism should be tempered with caution. Nevertheless, results like these are crucial in maintaining Ferrari’s position as a contender as it strives to rejoin the ranks of Red Bull and McLaren.
Loser: Aston Martin
The seventh and eighth positions on the grid seemed to signal a return to competitive form for Aston Martin; however, Fernando Alonso’s single point on Sunday served as a stark reminder that the team is firmly entrenched in the midfield. This situation highlights the significant distance the team has fallen from the front-runners, especially at a circuit where Alonso achieved his third second-place finish of the 2023 season just a year ago. If this trend continues for Aston Martin throughout the season, the silver lining is that the teams currently matching its performance level are unlikely to accumulate enough points to significantly challenge its fifth place in the constructors’ championship. – JC.
