Max Verstappen has firmly addressed the swirling accusations that he intentionally slowed down during the Dutch Grand Prix to allow Lando Norris to take the victory. These claims gained traction after former F1 driver and Sky Sports F1 presenter Martin Brundle suggested that Verstappen might have purposefully reduced his pace, leading to a 23-second gap that allowed Norris to cross the finish line first.

Brundle’s comments ignited debate, as he pointed out that Verstappen’s pace appeared to be “not as fast” as it could have been, hinting that the Dutch driver may have strategically adjusted his speed. Despite starting from pole position, Norris initially struggled but managed to overtake Verstappen on lap 18. From there, Norris steadily widened the gap, ultimately finishing over 20 seconds ahead of Verstappen.

In response to the speculation, Verstappen dismissed the notion of intentional slowdown, attributing his performance to a car that was not handling optimally due to recent upgrades that disrupted Red Bull’s balance. “I always give my best in every race,” Verstappen asserted. “If we didn’t have the pace, it’s not because I slowed down intentionally—it’s because the car wasn’t performing as it should.”

Red Bull’s recent performance issues have raised concerns about their car setup, which has significantly affected the dominance they exhibited earlier in the season. Despite not securing a win in the last five races, Verstappen still holds a commanding lead in the Drivers’ Standings, with a 70-point advantage over Norris. However, the gap in the Constructors’ Championship has tightened, now standing at just 30 points.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner acknowledged that the team learned critical lessons during the weekend, which Brundle speculated could be tied to adjustments in car setup and strategy. Verstappen’s remarks underline his commitment to racing at full capacity, refuting the conspiracy theories that have emerged following the Dutch GP.