After every Formula 1 race, driver Jeroen Bleekemolen shares his observations in an exclusive column for Formule1.nl. Who or what caught his attention, what went well, and what needs to change? This time after the GP of China: all about McLaren’s double victory and dilemma. And about Red Bull’s impossible predicament with Liam Lawson as the victim.
Brake problems are the last thing you want as a driver. It’s just scary. I’ve experienced it myself, thankfully not often. In long-distance races, for example, the brake pedal sometimes becomes longer, but that can still be resolved. For Lando Norris, it was an electronic issue during the GP of China in Shanghai on Sunday. That’s different. You just don’t know what you have and what’s going to happen.
It ended up being a close call for Lando Norris and his team, McLaren. They secured the first one-two finish of the season, with Oscar Piastri in 1st and Norris in 2nd. Over the radio, they mentioned that the brake problems were becoming critical, but you never know how critical. With one lap to go and a seven to eight-second lead over the man behind you, Russell in this case, you have enough margin to give away and that’s what you drive on. I mean, if there had been three more laps to the finish, he might have made it.
Positioning for the Constructors’ Championship
This double victory does mean important points for the team. I know, it’s only the second race of the season, but we can already start positioning for the constructors’ title for McLaren. They clearly have the best car by far. The balance of power will change over the course of the season, but by that time – and with two good drivers – they will be at the top of that championship.
The only issue is that they are, of course, taking points away from each other. If you really want to secure the drivers’ title, you’ll have to choose now, even though it’s early in the season. Just like they used to do at Ferrari in the time of Michael Schumacher. Rubens Barrichello and Eddie Irvine had to let him pass. McLaren won’t do something like that at this stage of the season. And that’s good news for Max Verstappen.
Last week in Melbourne, McLaren actually did it. When Piastri pressed Norris, he was told: ‘Hold your position‘. I thought that was a good moment in the race to make such a decision. Very mature, smart, and considered. Because if they start fighting together, it simply takes time, and you don’t want that at that moment. But like now in China, where Piastri was very strong, it would have been almost pitiful to switch positions. However, Ferrari did not shy away from this in the Schumacher era.
Verstappen Can Still Hope for the Title
Don’t get me wrong, Piastri deserved to win the race in China. He was better than Norris, who made many mistakes throughout the weekend. Far too many. And that’s why Max Verstappen can still hope for a chance at the world title. Although, McLaren is currently much stronger.
Max’s overtaking move in the final stages of the race against Charles Leclerc was quite a feat. He always maximizes! You see so many guys trying, but he succeeds. Max is incredibly good at overtaking. He approaches and immediately overtakes. He doesn’t hesitate.
Tsunoda Would Also Fall Through the Ice
Then about his teammate Liam Lawson. The boy is having a very hard time and stories are popping up everywhere that he is already under pressure and may be replaced, with quotes from Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko among others. I would find that very bad of the team. You should give the boy confidence and help him now. This way you only make it worse. But I fear he will be out soon.
Lawson has of course started terribly. The problem is simply the car. It is very stiff at the front and therefore very difficult to drive at the rear. That just fits Max’s driving style. Apart from him, no one can handle that car. For a Lawson, it is impossible to get out of this, but there is also no alternative. Someone like Yuki Tsunoda would also fall through the ice.
The downside of Red Bull’s choice to fully tune the car to Max’s driving style is that they compete for the constructors’ championship with one driver. This is not due to the qualities of Max’s teammates. Look at Alexander Albon, Pierre Gasly, and also Sergio Pérez in the past. All boys who know how to race, but this situation is just very difficult. It’s actually an impossible split. For Liam Lawson in the first place. He seems to be fighting a battle that cannot be won.
