Max Verstappen gets credit for dominating the first half of Formula 1 in 2022, which makes the defeat to Charles Leclerc less painful, even if it happened on a Red Bull track
Half of the 2022 Formula 1 season is gone, and there is no doubt: Max Verstappen is the guy of the moment for everything he has done here. Not necessarily with the same brilliance that was required of him in 2021, but with great enough maturity to excel in every situation that is presented, even in Austria, on a day where victory seemed impossible.
Despite the pole-position and the victory in the sprint race, it was very difficult to win at the Red Bull Ring. Ferrari displayed enviable straight-line speed and ideal tire wear. Verstappen fought and resisted in the first battle with the Monegasque, but was taken by surprise. Even with Red Bull getting the strategy right to get the Dutchman back on top, there was no way to fight with the pace of Leclerc's Ferrari.
"It was a tricky day, we were struggling a bit with the tires and that continued on all compounds," he said. "I had too much degradation to really attack Charles, but second place is a good result on a tough day," he added.
No, it's not cool to lose on the track that bears the Red Bull team's name and on which Verstappen is a specialist, with four career wins, but everything Max has done inside the track in 2022 makes the defeat little painful. There were six wins in 11 races. Not only did he do his part, but he relied on several factors that leave him far ahead of Charles so far. It's Leclerc's mistake in Imole, the breaks in Barcelona and Baku, the strategic errors in Monaco and Silverstone, and the punishment in Canada. Max incredibly took advantage of almost all of these opportunities.
Red Bull's year is not perfect and has generated doubts, especially because of the breaks Verstappen suffered in Bahrain and Australia. However, in the game of who makes the most mistakes, Ferrari wins, and left a lead on a platter for the Dutchman here. There is not necessarily a historic performance from the world champion so far, just a driver who is using everything to make his situation more and more comfortable.
Of course, the consecutive defeats in England and Austria need to lift Red Bull's ears. The team may even want the same finish as in 2021, but the middle, where Lewis Hamilton has twice recovered to make the race tougher, is something the Taurine team should shy away from. Both Paul Ricard and Hungaroring are crucial races before the summer break to manage or make Verstappen even more comfortable for the final marathon.