Max Verstappen, the runaway leader in Formula One, showcased his dominance by winning a rain-soaked Dutch Grand Prix. This victory marked his ninth consecutive win, equaling Sebastian Vettel’s record. Verstappen’s triumph also extended his lead in the championship to a whopping 138 points as he edges closer to securing his third consecutive world title.
Driving for Red Bull, Verstappen started from pole position and clinched his third straight win at the Zandvoort track. Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin secured second place and also earned a bonus point for setting the fastest lap.
Verstappen expressed his delight at achieving the impressive feat of nine consecutive victories, stating that he never even considered such a milestone. He acknowledged the capabilities of his car, which played a crucial role in his success. The passionate Dutch crowd contributed to his motivation and created a remarkable atmosphere throughout the race.
Pierre Gasly, driving for Alpine, initially finished in fourth place, but due to a penalty incurred by Sergio Perez of Red Bull, Gasly was promoted to third. Gasly celebrated his fourth career podium finish, expressing his excitement about the race.
As the eventful race progressed, Perez finished fourth, followed by Carlos Sainz Jr. of Ferrari in fifth and Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes in sixth. The race had numerous tire changes and weather-related challenges, causing a 40-minute delay due to a red flag after Zhou Guanyu of Alfa Romeo crashed. Verstappen highlighted the dangers posed by the waterlogged track.
The race recommenced with Verstappen leading the pack, followed by Alonso, Perez, and Gasly. After a couple of laps behind the safety car, Verstappen comfortably extended his lead, securing his 11th win of the season and strengthening his championship lead over Perez.
This victory for Verstappen also extended Red Bull’s winning streak to 14, dating back to the final race of the previous season. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner shared his admiration for Verstappen’s achievement, comparing it to Vettel’s record and emphasizing the incredible performance of the team.
With this win, Verstappen moved closer to his own Formula One record of 15 victories, which he set last year. At just 26 years old, he currently ranks fifth in all-time wins, with Alain Prost and Vettel reachable targets as he aims to surpass them.
Ferrari had a disappointing race, with Charles Leclerc retiring due to floor damage. Leclerc’s retirement marked his third non-finish of the season, equaling the total number of retirements he had in the previous year. Meanwhile, Sainz is still awaiting his first podium finish with Ferrari.
Fernando Alonso, at 42 years old, showcased his resurgence and expressed confidence in securing his 33rd career win in the future. He praised the exceptional performance of his car in these challenging conditions.
Lando Norris of McLaren finished seventh, followed by Alex Albon of Williams, Oscar Piastri of McLaren, and Esteban Ocon of Alpine, completing the top 10. Unfortunately, it was a forgettable race for George Russell of Mercedes, who started in a strong third position but ultimately finished in 17th.
The race started with Verstappen maintaining his lead, with Norris in second and Alonso overtaking Russell to claim third. Heavy rain immediately followed, leading several drivers to make their first tire changes. Ferrari faced a blunder as they were unprepared with new tires for Leclerc, and the team failed to notice the damage to his front wing, highlighting their ongoing mistakes in recent seasons.
Verstappen made a pit stop one lap after Perez, initially trailing by 10 seconds, but quickly closing the gap. As the track began to dry, Verstappen made another pit stop, and Ferrari finally changed Leclerc’s front wing. Perez also made his second pit stop and emerged three seconds behind Verstappen.
Logan Sargeant, starting from 10th place, crashed for the second time in two days, triggering a safety car deployment on lap 17. Sadly, Sargeant, who is yet to score any points this season, was left frustrated and defeated.
Throughout the race, Verstappen confidently held off Perez following the safety car restart, with Alonso maintaining his position in third. Perez gradually fell further behind Verstappen, while Leclerc returned to the garage.
Next weekend, the race moves to Monza, Ferrari’s home track, where Verstappen has the opportunity to set a new Formula One record if he emerges victorious. Monza holds significance as the place where Vettel secured his first victory in 2008.
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