Max Verstappen believes the situation at Red Bull was “already a bit alarming” even before Lando Norris’ crushing victory in the Dutch Grand Prix.
The 26-year-old finished his race in second, nearly 23 seconds behind the McLaren driver, who also took the point for fastest lap at Zandvoort, reducing Verstappen’s lead in the drivers’ championship to 70 points. .
After qualifying more than three-tenths of a second slower than pole-holder Norris, the Dutchman took the lead going into the first corner.
However, his RB20 was no match for the superior race pace of the MCL38 and the Brit regained his position, forever, on the 18th lap.
After the race, Verstappen was informed that the Red Bull advisor Dr. Helmut Marko had described the Zandvoort result as alarming and that both championships were at stake. “I think this weekend was a bad weekend overall,” Verstappen told the media, including RacingNews365.
“We have to understand this, but the last few races have not been really great.
“So I think in a sense it was already a little alarming. But we know we don’t need to panic.”