Former F1 driver sees extra motivation help Verstappen towards victory in Zandvoort

18:28, 25 Aug

byKevin Doldersum

Max Verstappen will be in action at Circuit Zandvoort next weekend. Formula 1 took a short break, but now it's time to get things back in order. According to Jolyon Palmer, the Dutch Grand Prix is the perfect opportunity for the Dutch driver to regroup after a challenging race in Hungary.

"I mean, it's going to be a boost. It just has to be a boost. The Zandvoort crowd is one of the best in the season," started the former Renault driver in the F1 Nation Podcast. Driving in front of a home crowd is always special, which Verstappen himself also already pointed out.

Then Palmer discussed the Dutchman's chances during his home race. He said: "He'll turn up with a spring in his step. And if he thinks that the championship's lost, which it most surely is, you can turn up to some races and think, 'Oh, what's to play for?'"

The audience at Zandvoort will give Verstappen a helping hand according to Palmer

"But actually turning up for Max in Zandvoort, he'll know what's to play for because the crowd will be raucous if he puts it on pole and wins the race. He's up against it," the British F1 analyst stated. He expects McLaren to once again dominate the race in the Netherlands.

‘Verstappen should not be considered without hope’

Yet, he does not rule out a top result for the four-times world champion. "But I do think it's probably the perfect way for Max to come back after the summer break and a tough race in Hungary just to think, 'yeah, I can still execute a a great race'," Palmer said.

And the Dutch fans have an important role to play in this. "And the crowd hopefully will will lift him and and give him that extra spur to to keep keep pushing for it. I think it should be okay around there. I don't see it being, you know, one of their better, you know, Silverstone coups of getting on pole position," Palmer concluded.