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 say his second straight victory on the Dutch Grand Prix.
Mercedes’ George Russell equaled his finest 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 may problem Verstappen for the win.
“It is all the time particular to win your property grand prix. This 12 months I needed to work for it much more. An unimaginable weekend and I am actually completely happy we gained the Dutch Grand Prix. I am proud to be Dutch.”
Security automobile confusion
After a comparatively easy begin to the race, a weird collection of occasions started to unfold on lap 45, as Yuki Tsunoda introduced his automobile to a cease along with the monitor, seemingly involved that one among his tires was unfastened.
With a security automobile imminent, Tsunoda was advised by his staff that his tires have been high-quality and the Japanese driver continued his race, solely to slowly make his approach into the pit lane. The AlphaTauri pit crew checked Tsunoda’s wheels and his seat belt, earlier than deciding the whole lot was in working order and despatched their man again out to race.
Nevertheless, nearly instantly, Tsunoda as soon as once more felt one thing was flawed together with his automobile and was lastly advised by his staff to cease on the monitor.
The digital security allowed Purple Bull, AlphaTauri’s dad or mum staff, to save lots of useful 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 bother pressured Valtteri Bottas to carry his Alfa Romeo to a cease on the principle straight, inflicting the protection automobile to be deployed.
Mercedes initially stored each Hamilton and Russell out on the monitor, whereas Purple 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 protection automobile went again in and the racing resumed.
After seeing his teammate cross him quickly after, a livid Hamilton berated his staff over the radio. “I am unable to imagine how a lot you guys f**ked me,” he mentioned.
“Sorry about that Lewis,” Hamilton’s race engineer, Pete Bonnington, advised his driver after the race, per Sky Sports activities. “It was trying good however we’ll sit down and evaluation 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 might take one thing exceptional to stop him from claiming his second consecutive F1 title.
