Max Verstappen Faces Horrible Deja Vu as McLaren Duplicates Ferrari’s 2-Year-Old Austrian GP Bravado

McLaren is pushing Max Verstappen towards the extremities of discomfort. The Austrian GP Sprint race was a continuation of supremely confident Lando Norris challenging the reigning world champion for victory. However, this time around, teammate Oscar Piastri was right alongside, cramping Verstappen into a forced error but to no avail. The duo in Papaya Orange couldn’t faze their Red Bull counterpart. However, their closer-than-ever position to the top step has brought back Ferrari’s similar success from the 2022 Austrian GP, which Charles Leclerc won.

The Red Bull Ring in Austria is the second location with the most Max Verstappen fans, after his home race. Though falling short of victory to a McLaren here wouldn’t downgrade him in the Drivers’ standings, it would leave Red Bull’s wish for another home victory unfulfilled. Charles Leclerc was the last rival to upset them at home in 2022, winning by just over 1.5 seconds. But what makes the McLaren-Ferrari performance similar is their Sprint race showing.

In 2022, Ferrari was nearly on par with Red Bull, as McLaren is this year. The men in Scarlet Red lined up 2-3 on the Sprint grid behind Verstappen, with Leclerc leading Carlos Sainz, while McLaren was out of action, and the points. Comparably, McLaren started 2-3 today and ended up battling intensely for P2 amongst themselves while Verstappen cruised to his 3rd Sprint win of 2024.

Even Leclerc and Sainz did the same infighting for P2, before witnessing the Dutchman take the chequered flag. However, the very next day, the Monegasque upset Verstappen on Red Bull’s home turf to take his 5th F1 victory. The possibility of this unfortunate loss repeating looms over the Red Bull garage as McLaren preps for redemption. Aware of a larger threat awaiting him on Sunday, the Dutchman has refrained from setting better expectations.

Max Verstappen readies himself mentally as the McLaren threat doubles

At the Spanish GP last weekend, McLaren had only one car at the front – Lando Norris’. Oscar Piastri failed to put a time on the board, beginning from P10 with no chance of being in the Top 5. Though the Austrian GP qualifying awaits us, the MCL38 looks poised to propel both drivers to the front. If Red Bull faces tire degradation issues again, which helped Charles Leclerc win in 2022, Verstappen could suffer.

After the Sprint Race, the 3-time champion explained how the longer race could affect his chances at victory. “They (McLaren) have two cars pushing flat out, trying to make it difficult for me,” he said, adding, “We had to work for it (the win) in that race. So few things to think about how we can do better, for tomorrow, especially. Tomorrow, it’s going to be even… longer race, harder on the tires. So it’s going to be interesting to see how that will evolve.”

Throughout 2024, the Dutchman has been more consistent than McLaren’s only race winner, Lando Norris. Time and again, Verstappen has brushed off the biggest of incessant pressures to emerge victorious. If the cars are on par, it is most likely that he’ll cross the chequered flag, gracing smoke from orange flares going off in the grandstands. As for now, a thrilling qualifying awaits us with a definite battle for Pole.