Formula 1. Dutch Grand Prix: At home, Max Verstappen wants to believe in renewal

Max Verstappen returns to the Netherlands this weekend, reveling in the exhilaration of his people. But this time, the orange of the stands won't mask the gloom of a season that's slipping away from him. The three-time world champion is 97 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri (McLaren). The title is out of reach, but pride, confidence, and perhaps the illusion of a new beginning remain.

In his own backyard – three wins and a second place since 2021 – Verstappen hopes to rekindle the flame that his Red Bull car, efficient but still too inconsistent, has denied him for months.

The RB21 has proven this season that it remains solid in the fast sections, but it suffers as soon as the track demands more downforce in the slow corners. This recurring flaw could be felt at Zandvoort, a demanding track where downforce and balance count as much as speed. "Imagining Red Bull capable of challenging McLaren would be presumptuous," warns Julien Fébreau, the voice of F1 on Canal+. "Max has a particular motivation here, but just because he wants to please his fans doesn't mean he'll go faster on the track. That's the stuff of novels."

On the other hand, the weather could reshuffle the cards with showers forecast all weekend at Zandvoort. "When it rains, the driver's confidence makes even more of a difference. Max is capable of taking many more risks than his rivals. McLaren, which is fighting for the title with Norris and Piastri, has no room for error. They have to measure their risk-taking, he can afford to be more aggressive," analyzes Fébreau.

But beyond the track, the mood at Red Bull also fuels hope. Since Christian Horner's ouster, Laurent Mekies has taken over the reins of the team . The Frenchman has eased tensions and refocused the team on what matters, reaffirming Verstappen's central role. "Red Bull needs his magic on the track," the new boss said. "The truth is that the team is very attached to Max, and the best way to prove it is to give him the most competitive car possible."

These words remind us how Verstappen remains the pillar of the Austrian team, but they don't erase the implacable reality of the championship. Believing in a reversal of fortune would be deluding ourselves. Ten Grands Prix remain to be contested, and McLaren's consistency seems unassailable. "A victory here would be more circumstantial than a real turning point," Fébreau declares. "The duel at the end of the season will be Piastri versus Norris."

There remains pride, that intangible force that no wind tunnel can measure and no simulator can calculate. A home victory wouldn't erase the Red Bull's flaws or the abysmal gap in the standings, but it would give Verstappen back what he came looking for: a breath of fresh air, a moment of magic, the embrace of his people.