As Max’ former brilliant teammember Calum Nicholas said in an interview, if Max is angry, he can do even more. He was talking about Brazil ’24, a Grand Prix we all know very well. Max was angry due to FIA-decisions during qualifying and he was determined to win the main race and so he did!
After last weekend, where Max’ favourite soccer club lost the championship to it’s main rival, we head to Japan, where it could be raining. As if Ajax knew Max would be even more angry when they won against PSV. But, that’s not all. There are more things playing on in the background that would’ve very likely made Max even more determined than usual.
After the winterbreak and the test, Max was handed an RB21 that was not fast enough, and when Max can’t make up for the weaknesses of the Red Bull, it means the RB21 is miles away from the McLarens, and most likely the Mercedes and Ferraris too. Max maximised the first 2 races, from almost winning in the wet in Australia against two dominant McLarens, to simply being way to slow in China, with a bad strategy.
He specifically told the press that he was held back in the first stint to manage tires, where he lost too many seconds to make up in the 2nd stint. Red Bull was too cautious and only told Max to stop lifting, one lap before he had to pit to the hard tyres because of an undercut threat. And the same lame strategy was used in the sprintrace, only telling Max to start lifting more, when he was within 0,3 seconds off of Hamilton!
He simply can’t be happy with the car or the way Red Bull managed the last race.
Then there was the decision by Red Bull to replace Max’ teammate Liam Lawson after only 2 races, which max didn’t like at all. Max had previously told the press that Liam would likely be faster in a Racing Bull. But Red Bull replaced him anyway, with Yuki Tsunoda.
And then Max has all the English press, constantly doubting if he is the best. constantly talking about Hamilton and Ferrari. Or about the McLarens. While he knows he can beat them all in equal machinery, he has to try and do it with the RB21.
What else does Max need to get angry over and destroy all the competition in Japan?
A grid-penalty and a rainy-race?
OK FIA, fafo please and think of something to give Max a grid-penalty. The rain looks ok…
Mooie column Eric. Wist niet dat je ze ook in het Engels deed, maar goed werk hoor. Mooi onderbouwt en inderdaad de perfecte mix aan ingrediënten om Max boos en getergd te maken. Dan maakt regen als finishing touch het wel helemaal blij. En mocht de overwinning van Ajax op Psv hebben geholpen om hem nog getergder te maken, ben ik er dubbel blij om als Ajacied. Dat is dan voor herhaling vatbaar haha.
Ha ha, ja, in het Engels, want daar komt altijd de meeste kritiek vandaan. Thx!