Max Verstappen wins Dutch GP for record-equalling ninth straight victory

AFP | Zandvoort

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Max Verstappen won a chaotic, deluge-hit and red-flagged Dutch Grand Prix yesterday to match Sebastian Vettel’s record run of nine consecutive victories. Fernando Alonso for Aston Martin took second with Alpine’s Pierre Gasly completing the podium at Zandvoort.

“Fantastic job, the weather didn’t make it easy for us,” said Red Bull’s double world champion.

The home favourite’s 11th success from the 13 races staged this season extended his lead to 138 points in the championship over teammate Sergio Perez, who finished fourth.

“I’m incredibly proud, I had goose bumps with the national an them playing at the start, an incredible atmosphere” said Verstappen, to roars of delight from his orange army of fans.

“He’s done it, matched the nine victories of Sebastian, I mean what a performance today,” said Red Bull boss Christian Horner. For Red Bull this latest display of dominance in trying circumstances extended their record unbeaten run to 14 stretching back to Abu Dhabi last year.

In front of the massed ranks of his fans Verstappen maintained his iron hold over Zandvoort since the circuit carved into the dunes by the North Sea rejoined the F1 calendar, this being his third straight win from pole.

A carnival atmosphere rocking to Max’s beat greeted the grid at the start, US actor Steve Carroll among the sell out 305,000 crowd over the weekend.

Unlike Red Bull’s metronomic form the weather was proving unpredictable, a thunderstorm rolling off the North Sea towards the track.

After the national anthem splendidly performed by Andre Rieu and his orchestra it was lights out at the seaside.

Verstappen got off to a flyer, holding off his front lane companion Lando Norris of McLaren to turn one as the rain arrived.

A fleet of cars came in to switch from dry to soft tyres, leaving Perez leading from Zhou Guanyu’s Alfa Romeo.

In a per - sona l landmark Liam Lawson, the New Zealand rookie called in to replace injured Daniel Ricciardo by AlphaTauri, clocked an early fastest lap in his first ever grand prix.

But he was then slapped with a 10sec time penalty for impeding in the pitlane. Verstappen was in fourth, 14sec off his Mexican teammate, after a frantic opening four laps.

He charged past Gasly and Zhou to go in hot pursuit of Perez, nine seconds up the road.

On a drying track Verstappen pitted, with Perez doing likewise to give back the lead to the local hero on lap 13.

Logan Sargeant then embedded his Williams in the barrier at turn eight, triggering a safety car on lap 16.

“I don’t know what happened man, I crashed,” the American rookie muttered disconsolately, getting out of the car and collapsing on a nearby dune, his head in his hands.