Verstappen Would Have Missed Podium Even Without Crash, Says Former Red Bull Mechanic
Summary
A former Red Bull mechanic believes Max Verstappen would have finished around seventh at the Dutch GP even without his first-lap crash, as the car lacked pace in windy conditions. Liam Lawson's result proved the car's limitations.
Former Red Bull mechanic Calum Nicholas believes Max Verstappen would have struggled to fight for a podium at the Dutch Grand Prix even without his opening-lap crash, as the team simply lacked the pace.
Why it matters:
The comments highlight Red Bull's ongoing issues with car balance in tricky conditions. Verstappen's home race ended early, but stand-in Liam Lawson's lonely seventh showed the car's true pace, leaving the team chasing McLaren and Mercedes.
The details:
- Verstappen crashed on lap one at Zandvoort's final banked corner after hitting a damp patch.
- Lawson, filling in for injured Isack Hadjar, finished seventh and scored six points.
- Nicholas told the team's Talking Bull podcast: "When we're in gusty, windy conditions, the car just seems a little bit unhappier."
- He said even if Verstappen had completed the race, "that's pretty much where he would have ended up" — in the gap between the frontrunners and the rest.
- Lando Norris won for McLaren, with Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli and George Russell on the podium.
What's next:
Red Bull must address the car's wind sensitivity and pace deficit. With Verstappen still in the title fight, fixing these balance issues is crucial.
Original Article :https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/red-bull-lacked-pace-for-max-verstappen-dutch...