Max Verstappen, the gem that keeps Red Bull at F1
The Dutch built his triumph in the GP of Emilia-Romagna with an anthology maneuver over Oscar Piestri to beat again right in race 400 of the Austrian team.
If there is an invaluable asset that the Red Bull Formula 1 team is Max Verstappen. The equipment of energizing drinks can lose the guru that designed the most wonderful cars of recent years that, without a doubt, will feel, but it is something that can be solved. They can put any runner in the second car, no matter. But under no point of view the Austrian team can lose the gem that conducts the car number 1. And lOr demonstrated again in the GP of Emilia-Romagna, just in the 400th race for the Team that was born in 2005 with an absolutely wonderful triumph.
When there is such an asset you have to take care of it. Only some datitos as it passes: of the 400 Red Bull races in the history of the F1, 65 were with victory of Verstappen. In addition, we must add 43 pole posations and four titles. It is true, many of those numbers thickened in the period of extreme mastery of the team, as in 2023, which stayed with 21 of the 22 races (19 by the hand of the Dutch). But they also achieved celebrations when their RB models were not so overwhelming. As in 2021, when he achieved the first crown in a hand in hand against the overwhelming Lewis Hamilton. Yes, there was the controversial security of Abu Dhabi that twisted the story, but Max bathed pure talent. And this year the same thing happens.
Because no one can doubt that McLaren has a car superior to RB21, however, Verstappen manages and fixes, pure talent and boldness, to present battle. And in Icola he demonstrated it in the start, with a maneuver that changed the fate of a race. The tetracampeón came from losing with Oscar Piastri in the game of the Saudi Arabia GP (he was first cutting off and was sanctioned) and had a revenge in mind. And he did it brilliantly. Because his start was not good, in fact the Australian took advantage, but when he reached the entrance of the concatenation of curves that form Tamburello, he built a sensational maneuver to overcome Piastri and stay first.
In the press conference room, Piastri’s face reached the floor. “Max surprised me, I had control, but it was a great movement of him. It’s learning for next”Said the World Cup leader, with more desire to leave Icola than to answer questions.
When Verstappen reached the tip, there was still a giant exam: the career rhythm, the RB21 Achilles heel. The overheating of the rear tires was the key to the fall of this year of the Austrians. For Icola, engineers premiered an update package to shorten the gap, which included modifications on the floor, at the bottom of the pontoons, all with the idea of achieving more aerodynamic load. Will the key have been? Maybe, but the rhythm that Max printed was overwhelming. Piastri wasted time in each turn, had no form. McLaren opted to stop the tournament leader early. The arrest in Vuelta 14 was not clean (the right front tire was locked) and came out in the middle of the traffic. Oscar had to accelerate if he wanted to go to Max when he stopped. But Verstappen’s records were still faster, while the Australian struggled to overcome other rivals.
On Vuelta 29 the virtual security car was deployed due to the abandonment of Esteban Ocon and everything seemed finished. Max stopped and returned to the track with 12 seconds of advantage over Norris. However, the great chance for the McLaren arrived When Kimi Antonelli stayed, the security car entered and the difference disappeared. Red Bull called Max to put fresh rubber and returned, because Lando also left. He was in front of Piastri, who did not stop. When the green returned … Goodbye Verstappen. He even made the record back! In the ten turns that had the race since they resumed, he took six seconds from advantage to Norris, who was finally second when he passed to Piastri.
Verstappen is going to battle until the end to achieve the fifth title in row with Red Bull. The team will do the impossible to keep your best asset happy. If they even allow it, without a gut, turn with a Ferrari GT3 in Nordschleife (the long Nürburgring route) just because it wants to participate in 24 hours in the mythical green hell. It is his gem, take care of him and pamper him. Success served him to approach the tip of the World Cup that still has Piastri, who continues as the top candidate for the title. But if the equipment of energy drinks manages to shrink the gap and is close to McLaren, the rest is a matter of Verstappen. If not, ask Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton what happened in 2021.
