Runway Formula One leader Max Verstappen clinched victory at the rain-affected Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday, matching Sebastian Vettel’s consecutive nine F1 win record and extending his commanding championship lead to 138 points as he charges towards his third world title.
The Red Bull star secured his third successive win at the Zandvoort track from pole position, with Spain’s experienced Esteban Martin driver Fernando Alonso second and earning bonus points for the fastest lap.
“I never thought about nine in a row, I’m very happy,” said Max Verstappen. “I have a car that is capable of doing a lot.”
The home crowd, clad in orange attire, added to his enthusiasm.
“When they played the national anthem before the start, I got goosebumps,” said Max Verstappen. “Despite the bad weather and rain, the fans were watching, an incredible atmosphere. I’m going to enjoy this. It’s always tough, the pressure to perform is always there.”
Alpine driver Pierre Gasly managed to snatch fourth place from Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, but was given a five-second penalty for fast driving in the pits to change tires, dropping him to fifth.
For Gasly, who has faced this penalty before, it was his fourth career podium. “I feel really excited, what a race.”
Perez finished fourth ahead of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. and Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton.
The Alfa Romeo of Zhou Guanyu, who started in 10th place, led the grid – the highest grid position for an American driver since 1993. But he had his second accident in as many days, sending the safety car out on lap 17 of 72 on the high-banked circuit.
Zhou, who has not scored a single point in his first season and is struggling to retain his seat, parked his car at the side of the track with his head bowed in despair.
“I don’t know what happened, man.”
Zhou, who has not scored a single point in his first season and is fighting to keep his seat, parked his car by the side of the track with his head bowed in despair.
On track, Max Verstappen held off Perez comfortably after a safety car restart, with Alonso in third. Perez was closing the gap to Max Verstappen as Alonso moved into third after passing Russell. Soon after, heavy rain came down, forcing several drivers to pit for tires.
Surprisingly, Ferrari had no spare cars ready for Leclerc and didn’t even notice that his front wing was damaged – another error in a series of errors by Ferrari this season and the last. Perez made his move on Max Verstappen a lap before, coming within 10 seconds of Perez but soon began reducing the gap. As the track dried, Verstappen came in for another change while Ferrari switched Leclerc’s front wing. Perez came back on the next lap, staying within three seconds of new leader Verstappen.
At the restart, Verstappen held off Perez comfortably after a safety car restart, with Alonso in third. Perez was moving forward against Verstappen while Leclerc slipped back in the pack. He hopes for a turnaround in Ferrari’s home track, Monza, next week, where Verstappen could set a new F1 record with a win. It would be a fitting place as Vettel clinched his first race win there in 2008.