On Sunday, Max Verstappen reigned supreme at the Circuit of the Americas. Starting from pole position, the Dutchman essentially drove unchallenged to his fifth victory of the season. While World Championship leader Oscar Piastri struggled in Austin, Verstappen claimed his third win in four Grands Prix. This has truly kickstarted his pursuit of a fifth world title. While Piastri is facing criticism in the international media, Verstappen is receiving nothing but praise.
In France, they are well aware of the ‘monster’ that lurks within Max Verstappen, even though they can’t find a Dutch translation for it. “In his country, there is no name for such a monster,” writes L’Équipe. “Here in the United States, a few days before Halloween, they call it the Boogeyman. In Russia, it’s the Baba Yaga, and in France, we fear the Ogre. Max Verstappen is that mythical creature that no one ever hopes to encounter – not even in their nightmares.” In the Netherlands, we would say that the four-time world champion is being compared to a bogeyman.
La Gazzetta dello Sport is also in the spirit of spookiness. “Cannibal Verstappen also wins the GP in Austin and reopens the title fight,” headlines the pink sports newspaper. “It was a perfect weekend for Verstappen, whose shadow is growing larger for the McLaren drivers.” The Italians saw World Championship leader Oscar Piastri struggling meanwhile at the Circuit of the Americas. “Fifth place went to Piastri, the most disappointing driver of the American race weekend, as his championship rivals are now getting closer and closer.”
‘Greatest Comeback in History’
Our eastern neighbors also recognize that Max Verstappen has suddenly become a serious title contender again. A new title fight could also mean the ‘greatest comeback in history’. “With his flawless victory, the Red Bull driver makes the world championship even more exciting,” writes Bild. “After the fifteenth Grand Prix in Zandvoort, he was still 104 (!) points behind Piastri, but after nineteen races, the deficit has shrunk to forty points – and there are still five weekends to go. At Red Bull, they are already dreaming of the greatest comeback in the history of Formula 1.”
Marca also noticed that everything is going ‘according to plan’ for Verstappen, but also noted that he is being helped by Piastri, who made little impression with his fifth place. “Throughout the entire race, he was too slow and could only gain one position; that of George Russell at the start,” concluded the Spanish editor on duty. “Given the pace at which Verstappen has closed the gap since the GP of Italy, we must admit that he has a great chance of a new title – perhaps the greatest chance. The McLaren drivers seem to have entered a downward spiral.” Piastri in particular is being criticized. “The calm he showed just two months ago was nowhere to be found. This could be one of the greatest collapses in the history of Formula 1.”
