Formula 1 Focus: Rollercoaster week for Verstappen as Norris puts Senna in his sights

[p]While the Dutch Grand Prix has always delivered an excellent atmosphere since its return in 2021, things were never as exciting on the track as they were in the stands, but on its last chance to do so, Zandvoort finally changed that.[/p][p]For the first time, F1's cars were agile enough and stable enough in dirty air to really make the most of the circuit's layout, allowing the drivers to treat us to some glorious battles and overtakes. So good was the action that for the first time, I felt a pang of disappointment that this race was leaving the calendar - with good racing added to the vibrant crowds, unique banked corners and picturesque sandy setting, it's worthy of a spot on it.[/p][p]I can only hope, then, that this won't prove to be the last Dutch Grand Prix, and these are my main takeaways from it.[/p][infobox id="c5ce5f5a-ccb6-468f-9fce-bb4a330c372a" /][h2]Rollercoaster week for Verstappen & the Netherlands[/h2][p]It's no exaggeration to say that [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/verstappen-max/UV3mgeXB/"]Max Verstappen[/a] has single-handedly made Formula 1 popular in the Netherlands, so the surprise announcement earlier this week that he's signed a new Red Bull deal and will be staying on the grid until 2030 at the least was a jubilant moment for F1 fans across the country.[/p][p]It was clearly a happy one for Verstappen, too. He was hardly desperate to stay in F1, so he must have received reassurances about Red Bull's future plans and promises that he can pursue his other passions in motorsport that very much pleased him, and gave him hope that he can fulfil his dream of spending the entirety of his career at Red Bull and win more titles in the process.[/p][p]All that was left to make it nothing short of a dream week for him and his nation was a happy farewell at what could be his last ever time racing on home turf, but instead, he got quite the opposite, making a rare error and crashing out early on.[/p][embed guid="606f99da-8493-4c7f-b23c-e53f92024fd7" url="https://x.com/F1/status/2091514792745795793" social-type="twitter" /][p]Being half Dutch myself, there are real mixed emotions looking back on the week's events...[/p][p]On one hand, Verstappen's contract extension means that the nation will get to keep enjoying and celebrating arguably their greatest sportsman for years to come, will remain one of F1's most passionate fanbases, and can hold out some hope of a Dutch Grand Prix returning in the future, whether that be at Zandvoort, the iconic Assen circuit, or as a street race through one of its cities.[/p][p]However, it's hard to see even Verstappen's presence bringing the race back, given that it sold out every year and still didn't have enough funding to be financially viable, being a completely private event with no government support. That's just made all the more painful by the fact that he's sticking around - one of the greatest drivers ever not being able to race on home turf in front of an adoring crowd feels like a real waste.[/p][p]That being said, the Orange Army will still take over the events in Belgium and Austria to cheer on their hero, and there's little doubt that both he and them make F1 a better place. Roll on the next four years.[/p][embed guid="f39b2f6b-7cf8-48db-ae3d-40e20ec1f2ec" url="https://x.com/redbullracing/status/2091493860727759110" social-type="twitter" /][h2]Norris on way to becoming McLaren's greatest ever[/h2][p]Verstappen's decision to stay with Red Bull has big repercussions elsewhere on the grid, all but guaranteeing that [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/norris-lando/WSVABbVF/"]Lando Norris[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/piastri-oscar/MqKAIeUf/"]Oscar Piastri[/a] will remain McLaren's drivers for a good while yet, and clearing the path for the former to become the team's greatest driver ever.[/p][p]The reigning champion produced another excellent performance at Zandvoort to claim his second consecutive victory. Once again, he comfortably had the better of Piastri, and once again, he looked more assured than ever, combining blistering pace with flawless wheel-to-wheel racing and the coolest of heads.[/p][p]While that win means he's still in with a chance of defending his title, I think the gap to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/antonelli-andrea-kimi/ptGu0mT1/"]Kimi Antonelli[/a] is too big to close, but it did make clear that in the long run, he has every chance of becoming the best McLaren driver of all time.[/p][embed guid="1db9afa4-66cc-4b8e-bfbc-47f5406f03af" url="https://x.com/McLarenF1/status/2091549646971613544" social-type="twitter" /][p]Needless to say, that's a big claim, given that the competition is the legendary duo of Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, but Verstappen being taken off the market gives Norris plenty of time to chase them down.[/p][p]He's already completed more races for McLaren than anyone else, and now that he's all but certain to remain their lead driver for as long as he wants to, he feasibly has as long as a decade to pick up the 20 or so wins and two further titles that would give him the stats to rival Senna and Prost. Given he's only getting better as a driver and McLaren are regularly producing top cars, you wouldn't bet against him doing so.[/p][p]It's very difficult to imagine that, when he retires, the 26-year-old won't stand alongside Senna and Prost in the pantheon of McLaren greats, at the very least.[/p][h2]Fernando Alonso: Season 24 - coming soon?[/h2][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alonso-fernando/rVRhR90U/"]Fernando Alonso[/a] isn't in that pantheon himself, having fallen out with McLaren during his first spell there and being stuck in a disaster of a car during his second, but he's very much one of F1's greats, and for the first time in 2026, it feels like there's real hope that his story isn't over yet.[/p][p]When it became clear Aston Martin's 2026 car was the worst that he'd been given in a long time, it was difficult to imagine the 46-year-old sticking around for 2027.[/p][p]He wouldn't be interested in spending another season at the back of the grid, and also probably wouldn't be the best driver to help the team claw their way back up the field, given the counter-productive way he dealt with the very same Honda engine issues at McLaren in the past, angrily sharing his frustrations with the team and the wider world.[/p][p]However, in Zandvoort, he showed that he still has a lot to offer both his team and himself.[/p][embed guid="ad60de59-8b7f-488b-8a65-da6829f8c720" url="https://x.com/F1/status/2091581043853623491" social-type="twitter" /][p]He made it abundantly clear that, even as he approaches his 50s, he remains one of the best drivers in the world. Starting 18th, he produced an absolutely stunning drive to climb all the way up to 9th, managing his tyres better than anyone and defending from other drivers perfectly.[/p][p]Considering the level he can clearly still drive at, Aston Martin would be mad not to try and keep him for another season. He may not be the best team player, but his driving more than makes up for that.[/p][p]And now that he's shown himself, probably for the first time in 2026, that he's still got it, he may be tempted to give them one last chance to give him a worthy car, knowing full well that he could make the most of it.[/p][infobox id="68274eb9-a292-466f-8d1c-279fe1b5c54c" /]