In the aftermath of every Grand Prix, racer Jeroen Bleekemolen shares his exclusive insights about the past race weekend. Who or what caught his attention, what went well, and what needs to change? This time, he discusses how Max Verstappen manages to hold his ground against ever-changing challengers, unlike the disappointing performance of Sergio Pérez.
First McLaren, then Ferrari, and this weekend, even Mercedes. The power dynamics in Formula 1 are constantly shifting, sometimes to extremes as we’ve seen in Monaco and Montreal. This makes Formula 1 thrilling and exciting to watch. Amidst all these developments, one thing remains the same: Max Verstappen always ends up standing tall.
While the challengers keep changing, sometimes even from one race weekend to the next, Verstappen is always a contender to consider. Even after setbacks like in Monaco, or initially in Canada, he rises to the occasion, as we’ve seen. And ultimately, he wins, along with his team.
As a racer, it’s crucial to perform when it matters most. The fact that it’s not a given, even in a Red Bull, is evident from Sergio Pérez’s performance this weekend. Despite having a contract extension, he was out in Q1, failed to impress during the race, and ultimately crashed out. A total embarrassment.
Pérez’s Struggles and the Competitive Landscape of Formula 1
Last year, Pérez also had a tough time, but he was able to bounce back. This was partly due to the superior performance of the Red Bull car. This year, the car is not as dominant, making it very difficult for him. I am skeptical about whether he will be able to fulfill his new contract at this rate…
Let me put it this way: if he continues like this, I think he will leave Red Bull quickly despite his new contract. You can bet there are performance clauses in it. And if you’re not up to par, as is the case now, it’s going to affect you mentally.
Max’s Success and the Rise of Mercedes
Max is performing well, and he’s not the only one: Mercedes is also making its presence felt. Impressive. The new front wing is clearly working well. However, I am curious to see if the team can maintain their lead on the upcoming circuits, which will feature more fast corners than in Monaco and Canada. In Spain, Austria, and Great Britain, races will be held on tracks that will naturally favor Red Bull. Ferrari will undoubtedly improve, and McLaren is also a contender. That team has consistently performed well.
The Excitement of the New Regulations and the 2026 Car Plans
It’s exciting! Especially now that the new regulations and plans for the 2026 cars have been announced… There was a time when we looked forward to this, as it could bring back the excitement to the sport. But that excitement is already back, as the power dynamics have become more balanced.
After the introduction of these new rules and the new car, there will likely be a team (or several) that will stand out above the rest, while others will fall short. That’s just the way it goes after the introduction of new rules, it takes some getting used to. However, we’re not there yet, for now, we have this already exciting season. With the top teams close to each other. Everyone is enjoying it (except for Pérez).
