Formula 1 focus: Verstappen’s Rollercoaster week as Norris chases McLaren history

What were the biggest stories to emerge from the latest Formula 1 race weekend? And which off-track developments are creating the biggest talking points? Formula 1 Focus, Flashscore’s regular F1 column by Finley Crebolder, takes a closer look.

The Dutch Grand Prix has delivered one of Formula 1’s best atmospheres since returning to the calendar in 2021. However, for much of that time, the action on track struggled to match the spectacle in the grandstands.

That finally changed at Zandvoort, and just in time.

For the first time, the modern F1 cars appeared agile and stable enough in dirty air to fully exploit the circuit’s unique layout. The result was a race packed with superb battles, daring overtakes and genuine excitement.

The racing was so good that, for the first time, I found myself genuinely disappointed that the Dutch Grand Prix is leaving the F1 calendar.

Combine the quality of the racing with the spectacular crowds, the circuit’s distinctive banked corners and its picturesque setting among the dunes, and Zandvoort certainly feels worthy of a permanent place on the calendar.

I can only hope this isn’t the final chapter for the Dutch Grand Prix.

Here are my biggest takeaways from the weekend.

Verstappen and the Netherlands: A Rollercoaster Week

It’s no exaggeration to say that Max Verstappen has transformed Formula 1’s popularity in the Netherlands. So when it was announced earlier in the week that he had signed a new Red Bull contract that will keep him on the grid until at least 2030, the reaction across the country was understandably jubilant.

It was clearly a hugely positive moment for Verstappen, too.

The four-time world champion was hardly desperate to continue racing in F1, so his decision to commit to Red Bull suggests he received significant reassurances about the team’s future plans. Just as importantly, he appears to have been given greater freedom to pursue his other interests in motorsport.

That could give Verstappen hope of achieving one of his biggest ambitions: spending his entire F1 career with Red Bull Racing while adding more championships to his remarkable tally.

All that was missing was a perfect farewell at what could have been his final home race at Zandvoort.

Instead, Verstappen suffered a rare mistake and crashed out early, turning what had looked like a dream week into a strangely painful one.

As someone who is half Dutch myself, there are certainly mixed emotions when looking back at the weekend.

On the positive side, Verstappen’s contract extension means the Netherlands will continue to enjoy and celebrate one of its greatest-ever sporting figures for years to come. His presence will also ensure that the country’s passionate Orange Army remains one of the most recognisable fanbases in Formula 1.

There is even reason to hope that the Netherlands could eventually return to the calendar, whether that means a revival at Zandvoort, a race at the iconic Assen Circuit, or perhaps even a street race through one of the country’s major cities.

Unfortunately, though, Verstappen’s new deal probably won’t be enough to save the Dutch Grand Prix.

The event sold out year after year but still struggled to become financially viable, largely because it operated as a private event without government funding. That makes the situation even more frustrating now that Verstappen has committed to staying in F1.

One of the greatest drivers in the sport’s history being unable to race at home in front of his enormous fanbase feels like a genuine missed opportunity.

For now, the Orange Army will have to take its celebrations elsewhere, with Verstappen’s supporters expected to continue turning races in Belgium and Austria into sea-of-orange spectacles.

There’s little doubt that both Verstappen and his fans make Formula 1 a better place.

Roll on the next four years.

Norris on Course to Become McLaren’s Greatest Ever?

Verstappen’s decision to remain at Red Bull could have major consequences elsewhere on the grid.

With the reigning champion off the market, it looks increasingly likely that Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will remain McLaren’s driver pairing for the foreseeable future.

For Norris, that could provide the stability he needs to chase one of the most remarkable achievements in the team’s history: becoming McLaren’s greatest-ever driver.

The reigning world champion delivered another outstanding performance at Zandvoort, claiming his second consecutive victory. Once again, he appeared to have the upper hand over Piastri, combining tremendous pace with increasingly impressive wheel-to-wheel racing and, perhaps most importantly, an exceptionally calm head.

The victory keeps Norris’ title hopes alive, although I still believe the gap to Kimi Antonelli is simply too large to overcome.

What the weekend did demonstrate, however, is that Norris has a genuine opportunity to build a legacy at McLaren that could eventually rival the greatest names in the team’s history.

And that’s quite a statement when the names standing in his way include Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost.

With Verstappen now seemingly unavailable, Norris should have plenty of time to chase them down.

He has already completed more races for McLaren than any other driver, and if he remains the team’s lead driver for as long as expected, he could have another decade to add to his statistics.

Roughly 20 more victories and two additional world championships would put him in the kind of statistical territory required to seriously compare him with Senna and Prost.

Considering Norris is still improving as a driver and McLaren continues to produce competitive machinery, it would be foolish to rule that possibility out.

It is difficult to imagine that, by the time Norris eventually retires, he won’t at least be discussed alongside Senna and Prost as one of the greatest drivers ever to represent McLaren.

Fernando Alonso: Season 24 on the Horizon?

Fernando Alonso may not have the same McLaren legacy as Senna or Prost, having endured a difficult relationship with the team during both of his spells there, but there is no question that the Spaniard belongs among Formula 1’s all-time greats.

And for the first time in 2026, there is genuine reason to believe that his story might not be finished yet.

When it became apparent that Aston Martin’s 2026 car was among the weakest machinery Alonso had driven in years, it was difficult to imagine the veteran committing to another season in 2027.

After all, Alonso has never been someone who enjoys simply running at the back of the grid.

There were also questions over whether he would be the ideal driver to help Aston Martin turn its fortunes around, particularly given how openly he expressed his frustration during the team’s troubled partnership with Honda at McLaren.

But then came Zandvoort.

Starting from a lowly 18th on the grid, Alonso produced one of the drives of the weekend to finish ninth. His tyre management was exceptional, while his defensive driving once again demonstrated exactly why he remains so highly regarded by his peers.

At 46, Alonso showed that he still possesses the ability to extract performances from a car that perhaps shouldn’t be capable of delivering them.

And that changes the equation.

Aston Martin would be foolish not to seriously consider keeping him for another season. He may not always be the easiest driver to manage, but when it comes to extracting every last ounce of performance from a car, few can match him.

More importantly, Alonso has now given himself a reason to believe that there is still something worth fighting for.

If Aston Martin can finally give him a competitive car, there is little doubt that Alonso would know exactly how to make the most of it.

Perhaps, then, Season 24 of Fernando Alonso’s F1 career isn’t such a crazy idea after all.

And if Aston Martin can finally give one of Formula 1’s greatest survivors a car worthy of his talent, the veteran may just be tempted to give it one last shot.