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Dutch GP: Max Verstappen strengthens grip on F1 title with victory on home soil
Verstappen stormed previous Lewis Hamilton within the closing levels after some security automobile drama to ship the 100,000 Dutch followers right into a frenzy at Zandvoort.
The 24-year-old was greeted by orange flares and a sea of orange shirts as he crossed the end line to assert his second straight victory on the Dutch Grand Prix.
Mercedes’ George Russell equaled his greatest end in F1 with a distant second place and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc got here in third, leaving Hamilton to complete a disappointing fourth after it appeared for some time he would possibly problem Verstappen for the win.
“It is all the time particular to win your house grand prix. This yr I needed to work for it much more. An unimaginable weekend and I am actually completely satisfied we received the Dutch Grand Prix. I am proud to be Dutch.”
Security automobile confusion
After a comparatively simple begin to the race, a weird sequence of occasions started to unfold on lap 45, as Yuki Tsunoda introduced his automobile to a cease in conjunction with the observe, seemingly involved that one in every of his tires was free.
With a security automobile imminent, Tsunoda was informed by his group that his tires had been wonderful and the Japanese driver continued his race, solely to slowly make his method into the pit lane. The AlphaTauri pit crew checked Tsunoda’s wheels and his seat belt, earlier than deciding every little thing was in working order and despatched their man again out to race.
Nonetheless, nearly instantly, Tsunoda as soon as once more felt one thing was improper together with his automobile and was lastly informed by his group to cease on the observe.
The digital security allowed Crimson Bull, AlphaTauri’s mother or father group, to save lots of worthwhile seconds whereas Verstappen got here into the pits for a recent set of tires and permit the Dutchman to reemerge nonetheless within the lead and forward of Hamilton and Russell.
That wasn’t the top of the drama, although, as engine hassle pressured Valtteri Bottas to deliver his Alfa Romeo to a cease on the primary straight, inflicting the security automobile to be deployed.
Mercedes initially saved each Hamilton and Russell out on the observe, whereas Crimson Bull introduced Verstappen into the pits for one more set of recent tires, inflicting him to drop to 3rd.
However Russell did come into the pits after requesting recent tires, permitting Verstappen a transparent run at Hamilton and a simple overtake as soon as the security automobile went again in and the racing resumed.
After seeing his teammate move him quickly after, a livid Hamilton berated his group over the radio. “I am unable to consider how a lot you guys f**ked me,” he stated.
“Sorry about that Lewis,” Hamilton’s race engineer, Pete Bonnington, informed his driver after the race, per Sky Sports activities. “It was wanting good however we’ll sit down and evaluate choices that we made there.”
That can come as little comfort, although, as Hamilton nonetheless awaits his first race win of the season.
Verstappen’s victory extends his lead on the high of the motive force’s standings to 109 factors. With seven races remaining this season, it will take one thing exceptional to forestall him from claiming his second consecutive F1 title.