Formula One has a problem. Its world champion, Max Verstappen, it appears, is just too good. His crushing superiority in the Red Bull car in this year’s championship has already raised, as early as the mid-season break, questions that must be being considered by the sport. Can they, and will they, try to clip his wings?
At the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday Verstappen won from sixth on the grid. The manner in which he did so was indicative of the stranglehold he has on the season. He passed his teammate, Sergio Pérez – in, it must be stressed, an identical car – on lap 17 and by the close was 22.3 seconds up the road from him and that included easing up for the final third. He was untouchable and it was all too familiar a sight.
