F1 Spain: 3 Big Things
It may have been another Max Verstappen win but, much like Canada, these aren’t the Verstappen wins of the last few years. We can fully believe him when he says the dominance is gone. Expect a Red Bull upper hand at some tracks but it is increasingly the case that it’s going to take a great weekend and a great drive from a great driver to bring home race wins.
1. The wins are more impressive now
As devastatingly boring as it made the racing in 2022 and 2023, Red Bull’s mastery of the current set of regulations was plenty impressive and worthy of credit. Verstappen consistently showed he was a great driver capable of seeing a wholly dominant car through a weekend time after time. After time. After time.
But now, the great convergence has seemingly occurred and while it looks like only one team may be able to challenge them at every circuit, there are three teams who can challenge Red Bull at any given circuit. Our eyes turn to Verstappen as a result and we must sufficiently appreciate a driver who can notch wins like Canada and Spain, doing everything in his power to plug the hole created by the deficiencies of his teammate.
We’ve been looking for Verstappen’s great test from within his generation. When Charles Leclerc had the car under him, his mistakes cost him and battle never really resumed between the two of them the same way. George Russell hasn’t had a Mercedes ready for the fight. It’s looking like Lando Norris has the blend of pace and composure - can he hold onto those attributes when everything heats up?
2. US tastes success in the lower formulas
You may have watched the lone American in Formula 1 trundle around Barcelona to another last place finish but there was success for American drivers in Formula 2 and F1 Academy.
Juan Manuel Correa returned to the podium for the first time in five years in Saturday’s F2 sprint race; it was a brilliant story for the man who nearly lost his foot in a collision that took the life of Anthoine Hubert at Spa. He would go on to be stripped of the podium post-race for track limits violations but no matter - he finished on the podium in Sunday’s feature race.
In F1 Academy, it was the Chloe Chambers story this weekend. The Haas-affiliated driver took a podium in Saturday’s race and drove away from Abbi Pulling, the championship leader and a dominant force in the series, on Sunday to bring Haas F1 to the top step for the first time in a formula series.
Her seven-second gap over Pulling by the end of the race was built in part thanks to Pulling needing to drive in her rear views through the race but it takes no credit away from Chambers who laid down her marker at the start of the race, making it very clear that there would be no joy for Pulling’s attempts to move forward.
3. Williams needs to close the book
If the rumors of Carlos Sainz to Williams are true, the team needs to make the announcement as the ink on the contract dries. Sargeant’s performances have been a point of massive critique from me but allow me to make a different point.
The same Williams that spoke publicly in support of Sargeant now owes him the respect of swinging the sword with all possibly swiftness. Even if it’s not removing him from a situation that is evidently destroying what little confidence remains, the situation would be improved by making the path clear publicly as soon as it’s feasible.
I don’t know how many more “I’m sorry, I’m doing my best” messages I can hear and if Williams truly cares for Sargeant’s career, the misery should end.
That’s it, that’s all for Spain but we’re in a tripleheader. I’ll see you real soon.