Verstappen and Red Bull have left the others far behind  Premium

F1 fans can look forward to a thrilling second half of the season with plenty of storylines to follow. Max Verstappen is on course for a third title, but there's still plenty to watch out for in the battle for second-best team, McLaren's revival, and Daniel Ricciardo's return.

When the chequered flag fell at the end of the Belgian Grand Prix, it ushered in a respite of four weeks for Formula One fans.

Usually, for the sport’s faithful, the summer break is an agonising waiting period. Around this point, the season usually builds momentum, a pecking order is established, and one gets a sense of which teams are developing their car well and which outfit is stagnating.

The break also allows teams to regroup and drivers to recharge their batteries before the races come thick and fast towards the end of the season.

If a title battle is brewing, it also adds excitement as teams try to bring upgrades to stay in the developmental war as they search for glory.

Unfortunately for the sport, such has been the domination of Red Bull and Max Verstappen this year that none of these matter. There is little hope that a Red Bull car carrying the number ‘1’ won’t sail off into the distance when the season resumes in Zandvoort.

With ten wins out of 12 races, the drivers’ title has been a one-horse race in favour of the reigning two-time champion since he won his third race in Miami.

F1 peaked recently during the sensational 2021 showdown between Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton in his Mercedes. Since the new aero regulations introduced last year, Red Bull has been spectacular, dominating the last one-and-half years.