Max Verstappen has addressed recent claims suggesting he deliberately slowed down during the Dutch Grand Prix to allow Lando Norris to take the victory. The accusations come after former F1 driver and Sky Sports F1 presenter Martin Brundle hinted that Verstappen might have intentionally reduced his pace to create a 23-second gap for Norris at the finish line.

Brundle’s comments sparked controversy as he noted that Verstappen’s pace was “not as fast” as it could have been, implying that the Dutch driver might have adjusted his speed on purpose. Despite starting from pole position, Norris struggled initially but eventually overtook Verstappen on lap 18. From that point, Norris steadily increased his lead, finishing over 20 seconds ahead of Verstappen.

Addressing the speculation, Verstappen dismissed the idea, emphasizing that he was simply dealing with a car that wasn’t performing optimally due to recent upgrades that disrupted Red Bull’s balance. He stated, “I always give my best in every race. If we didn’t have the pace, it’s not because I slowed down intentionally; it’s because the car wasn’t handling as it should.”

Red Bull’s recent performance issues have raised questions about their car setup, which has affected their dominance seen earlier in the season. Despite Verstappen’s winless streak over the past five races, he maintains a comfortable lead in the Drivers’ Standings, with a 70-point advantage over Norris. However, the gap in the Constructors’ Championship has narrowed to 30 points.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner acknowledged that the team learned valuable lessons during the weekend, which Brundle speculated might be related to car setup and strategy adjustments. Verstappen’s response reinforces his commitment to racing at full throttle, countering the conspiracy theories that have emerged from the Dutch GP.