McLaren’s British driver Lando Norris beat Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who leads the World Series by 70 points, by almost 23 seconds on his home track on Sunday.
Sports expert Jukka Mildh go through the hottest topics of the Dutch GP in the article, but let’s go first Valtteri Bottas difficult F1 season.
The Finnish driver is going through crucial times regarding his potential new driver’s contract. However, in the contract negotiations, the options have narrowed down to practically one option – an extension contract with the current Sauber team.
– Yes, there is only one realistic place left. Red Bull and Mersu have places, but basically they are already filled, Mildh points out.
According to Mildh, Bottas is forced to keep a calm expression on his face in a difficult situation and focus on getting the contract. The expert would like to talk about Audi, which owns the Sauber team.
– In my opinion, Bottas is still the best option Nico Hülkenberg’s as a team mate. It would have a 35-year-old and a 37-year-old driver. The team (Sauber) really needs a lot of experience in the future.
– After all, Audi is a politically difficult environment, but Bottas has certainly experienced this kind of politicking or special activities in a family company like Williams and also at Mercedes, under the German giant company.
Bottas’ continuation will be decided this week
Mildh reminds that Bottas knows how to win. In addition, he has survived commendably in the internal battle, among other things Lewis Hamilton against – which is also a big screen.
– It can certainly be seen in the recommendations, for example when talking to the team manager of Mercedes Toto Wolff with from Bottas.
Most likely, the place of Sauber’s second driver will be decided before the Italian Monza GP, which will be held a week from now on September 1.
– This decision must be made quickly only from the point of view of the team’s operational activities, because then we will start mentally preparing already for next year.
It is quite clear that Audi needs a driver who is used to winning in the future.
– A few years have passed since Valtteri’s achievements, but I believe that those displays and experience still make him a valuable driver. There is no experience like Bottas on the market. Because of that, I would think that he meets at least most of the criteria. I hope they choose him, says Mildh.
According to the expert, the importance of the discussions is not that Valtteri is a good driver. He is.
– The issue now is largely that Bottas’ management team requires political know-how, as well as good relationships of trust and referral relationships with the decision-makers with whom the driver’s contract is discussed.
What solved it?
According to Mildh’s view, Lando Norris was able to trust his car, which also wore tires much more optimally than, for example, his competitors. Through this, the British driver was able to utilize the full potential of his drive.
– Apart from the start, the Dutch GP was a superb performance by Lando Norris and the McLaren team. The decisive moment was when Norris passed the leading Verstappen on the 18th lap. This meant that Norris could get the most out of his superior car. So, in practice, Norris was able to drive in “clean air”, which is what a good car like this aims for, because then the performance is optimal.
What speaks?
– We are certainly talking about the fact that Red Bull practically performs with the power of one driver, while McLaren forges the result with the power of two, harmonious drivers. The key thing is how McLaren’s car has become so superior and how Red Bull can respond to it, says Mildh.
According to the expert, Red Bull is still suffering from an internal power struggle and other disturbances in the team. Design wizard Adrian Newey is e.g. in the pits, which inevitably also eats into Red Bull’s performance.
– The team can’t perform, and this is perhaps the most important topic of conversation. McLaren as an organization has focused on the essentials and has developed very steadily for a couple of years – probably the best of all the teams. Above all, the team’s driver duo Norris – Oscar Piastri is the most harmonious at the moment and both represent the future.
Bottas’ race weekend and Sauber’s striking ability
– The Dutch GP did not bring anything new to Sauber’s performance or the development of the car in general. The car is still extremely bad. Also in situations where you should be able to show that it is being developed all the time. Nothing just happens, wonders Midlh.
– The first World Cup point of the season is still a distant dream. Fortunately, Valtteri finished second to last and beat his teammate Guanyu Zhou. That was perhaps the most important thing of the weekend, but the two were the only two laps behind the lead. It was quite sad.
The expert frankly gives the Sauber team a hard time.
– That weak development is due to me politicking within the team at the moment. The whole organization does not work in the right way, because it has become the total ownership of Audi. I have understood that people who do not understand the legalities of formula one try to influence the day-to-day running of the team.
According to Mildh, in the final games, formula 1 requires in-depth knowledge of the dynamics of operations and the culture of its car programs.
– If you are a normal business manager, you will not be able to manage such stables. In my opinion, this is now the one that is currently eating away at the strike ability of the team. Also, there is a transition period going on. And Bottas, of course, as a driver suffers from not getting the most out of everything, because all the bangs are put until 2026.
– I take my hat off to Bottas for his patience, Mildh praises.
A flop?
– Mercedes’ subdued performance can be called a failure. The stable cannot keep up with the development at the moment. In Holland, the race strategy went awry, and the car wasn’t top class either.
Mildh updates, for example, Lewis Hamilton’s 11th place in qualifying, which is quite a failure for the seven-time world champion. Hamilton finished eighth in the race.
– It doesn’t say everything that it’s only the drivers’ fault. But even in difficult and bad conditions, you can and should perform. Mercedes still has a lot to do. The team is pretty much left behind by Red Bull and McLaren.
Surprise?
– The surprise was definitely Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc performance. Leclerc drove to the podium, which was not expected in advance.
Mildh reminds that there have been seven different winners in the F1 series this season, which describes the changed situation.
– Ferrari started the season promisingly, but then something happened in development.
Dutch gp final results
WC points