Max Verstappen wins F1 Dutch Grand Prix, ninth victory in a row

Max Verstappen has survived a rain-affected Dutch Grand Prix, successful in entrance of a passionate residence crowd for the third straight 12 months.

The pack grandstands with followers wearing orange cheered Verstappen’s record-equalling ninth consecutive win in Method 1.

Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso continued his spectacular season ending second forward of Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, who was promoted to 3rd after Sergio Perez was handed a five-second penalty for dashing within the pitlane.

Regardless of beginning on pole, Verstappen’s win was by no means assured with a burst of rain firstly and finish of the race inflicting havoc, the latter resulting in a stoppage of greater than 40 minutes.

However with chaos round him, Verstappen by no means flinched and prolonged his lead within the drivers’ championship to 138 factors.

After equalling the file for consecutive wins, Verstappen mentioned he wished to take pleasure in Sunday’s victory in entrance of his residence followers. 

“I will take into consideration [the 10th win] subsequent week, I simply wish to take pleasure in this one. The ambiance may be very particular,” he mentioned. 

Verstappen’s win is his ninth consecutive grand prix victory, equalling the file set by Sebastian Vettel in 2013.

He can take the file outright subsequent weekend on the Italian Grand Prix.

Lap 1 rain mixes up the grid

Rain on the opening lap threw the race into chaos, with a handful of drivers taking a threat and pitting for intermediate tyres.

As Verstappen and different leaders carried on for a second lap on dry tyres, his teammate Sergio Perez dived into the pits because the rain got here down tougher.

The choice to go onto the intermediate tyres was the appropriate name, as most different drivers got here into the pits on the finish of the second lap, in the meantime, Perez flew to the lead of the race.

Perez’s lead over Verstappen was as a lot as 14 seconds at one level, with the Dutchman sitting in fifth after pitting for the intermediate tyres.

However Verstappen rapidly acquired himself as much as second, then began mowing down his teammate.

When it was time to modify to dry tyres, Crimson Bull selected to pit Verstappen — who was greater than two seconds behind Perez — earlier than the chief.

That call allowed Verstappen to breeze previous Perez as soon as the Mexican got here out together with his new tyres one lap later.

A security automobile on lap 16 following a crash by Logan Sargent neutralised the race and allowed the drivers to settle right into a extra ordinary sample.

When racing began once more Verstappen put his foot down and began to construct a spot to Perez.

The Dutchman put collectively a number of quickest laps, whereas Perez constructed a small hole to Fernando Alonso in third.

Zhou crash stops race and creates dash end

Rain began falling once more with 11 laps to go, with Perez once more one of many first to race into the pits.

By the tip of the following lap, all drivers had pitted for intermediate tyres aside from Alpine’s Esteban Ocon, who had the total moist tyres.

The rain continued to pour, forcing Crimson Bull to pit Verstappen for the total moist tyres, whereas some began to slip off the monitor.

Perez was the primary to go off monitor, dropping second place to Alonso, earlier than Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu slammed into the boundaries forcing a purple flag to cease the race with eight laps to go.

After greater than 40 minutes within the pitlane, the race resumed with two laps behind the protection automobile, then a six-lap dash to the end.

Verstappen didn’t put a foot flawed with Alonso on his tail, sending the ocean of orange right into a frenzy. 

Perez crossed the road third however was demoted to fourth with a five-second penalty for dashing within the pitlane. 

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