Starting in pole position in front of “its” full stands (305,000 spectators during the weekend), the Batavian delighted its public by winning – like last year already – under the cheers of a white-hot orange tide for his tenth victory of the season.
But unlike 2021, the Dutch round was not a walk in the park for the reigning world champion: “we had to push all the way”, he admitted on arrival.
And at the end of a race influenced by yellow flags and strategic decisions related to tyres, it was Red Bull who came out on top – in particular thanks to the intervention of a safety car, allowing the championship leader put on the right pair of tyres…. and win.
– “Difficult decision” –
With this safety car entering the track with less than 15 laps remaining, the round offered a fleeting duel of yesteryear between Verstappen and his rival for the 2021 season, Briton Lewis Hamilton, a time leading the race under the safety car scheme.
But once the race restarted, the first, on fresh soft tyres, made short work of its competitor’s Mercedes, on more worn medium tyres.
“Without the safety car, I think we could have played for the win at the end with just one stop,” explained Hamilton, who, like his team-mate George Russell, opted at the start of the race for a one-man strategy. stop.
On arrival, the Briton fails at the foot of the podium … with the regret of not having been called to the pits like Russell to change tires at the appropriate time.
“It was a tough decision to make because if we had both pitted we would have conceded the position to Max. If we had both stayed out we would probably both have lost to Max. So the best chance for the team to have a win was to split things up to stay ahead or behind and see what happens,” Russell explained.
The 37-year-old seven-time world champion has yet to win a race after 15 rounds, a first in his F1 career which began in 2007, the fault of a Mercedes not at the level of the best.
– Tire not ready at Ferrari –
On the Zandvoort circuit – a short, narrow, hilly course with inclined turns taken at high speed – Verstappen won ahead of Russell and the Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), 3rd.
“We showed incredible pace today, which gives us a lot of confidence for the future,” said Russell.
To complete his weekend at home, “Mad Max” offered the best lap on the track, earning an additional point in the championship.
A small point far from decisive in the title race, the Dutchman now counting 310 points ahead of Leclerc and Sergio Pérez (Red Bull), tied on points (201 points each). Pérez finished 5th on the Zandvoort coastal course.
Behind, Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), who started 3rd on the grid, fails in 8th place, after having received a 5-second penalty for his dangerous exit into the pit lane at the end of the race.
Earlier, the Spaniard, then 3rd in the race, had also lost precious seconds … the fault of a left rear tire not ready during his first pit stop.
The French Esteban Ocon (Alpine) and Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri) – who could run together next season for Alpine, still looking for a second driver to replace Fernando Alonso – finished 9th and 11th. Alonso, benefiting from Sainz’s penalty, finished in a good 6th place.
The season continues with a third race in a fortnight, scheduled for next weekend in Monza, Italy, this time at Ferrari.
