The world champion will be looking for a record-equalling ninth consecutive victory as F1 returns with his home race
Even with a chill wind sweeping across the sand dunes of Zandvoort and the threat of rain for Sunday’s race, nothing will dampen the ardour of the fans at the Dutch Grand Prix. They expect a celebration, perhaps even a coronation of sorts, as their man Max Verstappen comes home to adulation as the pre-eminent force in Formula One. Their admiration is of course unsurprising but it extends beyond the orange army to Verstappen’s contemporaries, who acknowledge we are witnessing a racing phenomenon.
Verstappen goes into this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix in this seaside town outside Amsterdam as world champion elect. Over 100,000 fans will attend this first race since F1’s summer break expecting the Red Bull driver to move one step closer to closing it out and in so doing equal a remarkable record.