Red Bull insider convinced: Verstappen would have won if this hadn't happened

15:40, 24 Jun

byNicole Mulder

Matt Majendie, a journalist embedded within Red Bull Racing this season, believes that Max Verstappen has a good chance of winning the Austrian Grand Prix this season. Moreover, he is convinced that the Dutchman would have won last year as well, if he wouldn't have crashed with Lando Norris.

‘Verstappen has a good chance in Austria’

According to Majendie, Red Bull Racing can be hopeful ahead of their home Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring. That is partially due to their home field advantage, but also because of the team's successful history.

“It's their own circuit, and it's habitually a circuit, unsurprisingly, that suits the characteristics of their car. It might be different this season," he said in The Inside Track podcast.

The previous season, after Verstappen and Norris made contact after a long battle, and a result, it was George Russell who crossed the finish line in first place. "I think Max would have won if he hadn't had the coming together last season with Lando Norris,” he continued.

Verstappen himself has a good track record at the track based in Spielberg. He won the Austrian Grand Prix on four occasions, while he also won an additional Styrian Grand Prix as well.

“He'll feel good about it, particularly after what happened at the weekend. But I think McLaren will feel confident they can bounce back. Mercedes, I think the characteristics of the track, they could actually still be in the mix there. Ferrari, who knows?" the journalist explained.

The track in Austria is also the quickest the drivers can complete, but it isn’t just about top speed. Downforce, traction, and stability are equally important. “Long straights, quick corners,” Majendie began to analyse the circuit.

“You need to have fast car, so you've got to have a good power unit, but also a really good downforce. I can't quite tell who's going to come out on top, but Red Bull will go there confident.”

Max Verstappen in front of his own fan tribune at the Red Bull Ring.

That positive mindset is also fueled by the fans, as this will not only be a home weekend for the team, but the ‘Orange Army’ travel in great numbers to Spielberg.

“You've got all that support, so they will be willing them on, the Austrian public be willing on the Red Bull team. So there will be a lot of support, and I imagine a lot of the Orange Army will come out to support Verstappen,” according to Majendie.

“I know it's not his home race as a driver for Verstappen, but there will be a lot of support there. That always going to help," he concluded.

This article was written in collaboration with Kada Sárközi