P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen reign predicted to end despite ‘superhuman’ Silverstone show
Allan McNish, a three-time Le Mans winner and senior consultant on Audi’s F1 project, believes Max Verstappen’s reign as Formula 1 champion for the past four years may come to an end despite his remarkable qualifying performance at the British Grand Prix.
Verstappen’s pole position achievement at Silverstone was hailed by McNish as one of the all-time great laps, although he had to fight hard to secure it in a last-minute effort that outpaced Oscar Piastri by a mere tenth of a second.
During the rainy grand prix, Verstappen struggled due to the unsuitable low-downforce rear wing on his RB21, slipping down the order but managing to finish in fifth place after an off-track excursion that dropped him to tenth at one point.
With a 69-point gap to Piastri at the midpoint of the season, McNish predicts that the championship may change hands at the end of the year due to the significant performance difference and consistency observed between the two contenders.
McNish emphasized the superhuman quality of Verstappen’s pole-setting lap, acknowledging it as a remarkable achievement that showcased the Dutch driver’s exceptional talent and determination.
