Dutch press after magisterial race Verstappen: 'Approached perfection'

The Telegraph

The Telegraaf is extremely positive about Verstappen's 'perfect performance'. The morning paper starts with Verstappen saying there is always room for improvement: "Yet in combination with his team Red Bull - constructors' champion for the sixth time in history - Verstappen at least approached perfection in Japan. On the beautiful Suzuka circuit, Verstappen had the right feeling in his RB19 from the first lap on Friday. A driver of his stature then imagines himself in racing paradise. A predictable car, right after a disappointing exercise in Singapore, is exactly what Verstappen wants."

Normally, Formula 1's directors often let the radio traffic between Verstappen and his engineer Gianpiero Lambiase be heard. In Japan, that was not necessary: "That can be seen throughout the sixteenth Grand Prix, not just heard. While Verstappen is not a fan of podcasts ("then I fall asleep"), the entire radio traffic in Japan would at least make a nice audiobook. Over board radio, Verstappen does not have to raise his voice a single time and is on top of everything. Even when he has shaken off McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, eventually second and third, after the first corners."

Algemeen Dagblad

The AD was also very positive about the Dutchman's race. The newspaper is also clear about the performance of Verstappen's teammate: "Max Verstappen has already given his team a wonderful party in Japan. The Dutchman won overwhelmingly on the Suzuka circuit. Red Bull thereby took the constructors' title for the sixth time, despite a disappointing performance by Sergio Pérez."

Indeed,Sergio Perez dropped out after multiple errors, while Verstappen crossed the line without any problems. "It made for a Red Bull party in the land of their engine supplier Honda despite Pérez's disappointing performance. The moment Verstappen crossed the finish line, his team's engineers jumped into each other's arms overjoyed, thoroughly enjoying their team performance this season."

De Volkskrant

Whereas Red Bull still had many problems in Singapore, this was not the case in Japan. The Volkskrant saw that too: "In Japan at Suzuka, a favourite circuit for most Formula 1 drivers, the latter proved to be the case. Verstappen started from pole position, drove by far in the lead for almost all 53 laps and even on 'slower' tyres was constantly outpacing the competition in the form of the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who accompanied Verstappen on the podium. As usual in a dominant race by the 25-year-old Dutchman, he remained largely out of the picture."

That Perez had an off-day in Japan was also noticed by De Volkskrant: "His teammate Sergio Pérez had the opposite mood after a race in which he made one blunder after another. These caused so much damage to Pérez's car that for the first time this season a Red Bull failed to cross the finish line. 'It just wasn't his day,' team boss Christian Horner condoned, 'but he will recover in the next race in Qatar.'"

Parole

The Parool also discusses the improvements since the Singapore GP: "The mechanics and engineers at Red Bull's team are still racking their brains as to why Verstappen was unable to move forward on Singapore's street circuit last week, but the problems were clearly due to the nature of that race track, as there was nothing wrong at Suzuka. Verstappen drove smoothly and quickly from the first lap in the RB19 and again possessed the dominant car with which he has been stringing together wins this season and has already set a historic record of 10 wins in a row."

The newspaper further writes: "Pérez's quick retirement seemed like a setback for Red Bull, as the Mexican could not score any points for the constructors' championship. However, Verstappen single-handedly ensured that Red Bull had enough lead over rivals Mercedes after the race to secure the team title for the second year in a row."

NRC

The NRC does not dwell long on Red Bull Racing winning the constructors' title. It mainly looks ahead to the Qatar Grand Prix, which takes place in a fortnight: "Verstappen can win his third world title there, on Saturday by leading by three points in the sprint race, or on Sunday in the main race."