Verstappen has right to be “cheeky” based on F1 dominance, says Mercedes

As the Dutchman roared away to a crushing victory in the Belgian Grand Prix last weekend, he joked with his Red Bull team that he had such a lead over the opposition that he might make an extra stop just to give his mechanics some extra pit stop practice.

Red Bull boss Christian Horner later explained that his request was refused because of the risk of something going wrong with the stop and leaving the team with “egg on its…