When Max Verstappen stood on the Zandvoort podium in second, fresh from the summer break and in front of his home fans, the Dutchman felt like the result was a “really good achievement” for his Red Bull team.
It was the first time he had been on a Grand Prix podium since Canada back in June – and while he had a Sprint win to his name in Belgium during that period – as he left the Netherlands 104 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri, there was an increasing feeling that a fifth title in a row would be a step too far, even for a driver of his immense talent.
But since that day in Zandvoort, Verstappen has won three of the last four Grands Prix – and finished second in the other. As he ticked each of those achievements off, he wasn’t keen to entertain any chat about his title chances.