AMSTERDAM
\nWorld champion and runaway series leader Max Verstappen stayed cool to ride his luck and claim a dramatic victory for Red Bull, as his rivals floundered with a series of tactical errors, in Sunday\u2019s chaotic and unpredictable Dutch Grand Prix.
\nAmid wild celebrations at the packed Zandvoort circuit, with 105,000 orange-clad fans revelling in their hero\u2019s triumph, the 24-year-old Dutchman took full advantage of his team\u2019s calm decision-making in an incident-filled race to finish 4.071 seconds clear of Mercedes\u2019 George Russell.
\nCharles Leclerc came home third for Ferrari and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton fourth in the second Mercedes, scant reward after what seemed a probable victory was taken away when he was left on cold, worn tyres as both Verstappen and Russell switched to softs during a late safety car intervention.
\nExposed and unable to defend his position Hamilton was furious, but the sea of ebullient fans celebrated Verstappen\u2019s good fortune as he passed Hamilton and pulled clear to claim a second successive Dutch triumph, a fourth consecutive win and his 10th of the season.
\nHe now leads the championship with 310 points ahead of Leclerc and Perez each on 201 in the championship, making it possible for him to take his second drivers\u2019 crown in Singapore on October 2.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s always special to win your home race and this year I had to work for it even more,\u201d said Verstappen.
\n\u201cIt wasn\u2019t straightforward, but we pushed and we made the right calls,\u201d said Verstappen. \u201cIt\u2019s worked out really well. An incredible weekend and really happy we got the Dutch win!\u201d Hamilton, seeking a first win this year, was furious with Mercedes and launched an expletive-laden tirade over the team radio.
\nHe later apologised to the team for his language, explaining that his emotions were running high and \u201cthe car was finally working. And I lost it for a second.\u201d Russell said: \u201cI thought we had a chance to fight for victory and I\u2019m sorry for Lewis. He drove a great race and as a team we deserved better.\u201d
\nLeclerc said: \u201cTo be honest, we were a little unlucky with the VSC. I don\u2019t know if this would have changed anything, but Max was too quick today. And then there was the Mercedes which were flying on the hard tyres.\u201d
\nFerrari not for the first time suffered with confused strategy calls and a bungled pit stop for Carlos Sainz. \u201cOh my God,\u201d said Sainz as his crew searched for an errant left-rear tyre. His stop cost 12 seconds as he went on to finish eighth, after taking a penalty for a pit-lane incident.
\nVerstappen had enjoyed a perfect getaway, cutting across from his 17th pole position to lead into the first corner followed by Leclerc and Sainz, who resisted a bruising charge from Hamilton.
\nOn the tight track, with such a short lap, the action was intense. Leclerc pushed to stay in touch with the flying Dutchman, but by lap 12 was 1.7 seconds adrift. After a series of pit stops Verstappen showed pace in pursuit of the Mercedes pair, running one and two for the first time this year.
\nTo the delight of the \u2018orange army\u2019, Verstappen swept round Russell at Turn One on lap 27 to chase old foe Hamilton. A virtual safety car (VSC) was deployed triggering another rash of stops. Verstappen took hards, both Mercedes took mediums and the racing resumed on lap 50.
\n\u201cLet\u2019s go guys,\u201d said Hamilton praising his team\u2019s double-stacked stop before realising he was second, 12 seconds behind the champion. \u201cThat VSC has stuffed us,\u201d said Hamilton, knowing that instead of Verstappen having to pass him, it was he who had to pass the Dutchman with 18 laps to go.
\nA full safety car was then deployed when Valtteri Bottas parked his Alfa Romeo at the Turn One entry, prompting Red Bull to pit Verstappen again for softs, a move that put the Mercedes first and second again. Racing resumed on lap 60, with 12 to go, and on his worn, cold medium tyres Hamilton had no defence as Verstappen, taking a tow, cruised past to lead again, and trigger jubilation at Zandvoort.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AMSTERDAM World champion and runaway series leader Max Verstappen stayed cool to ride his luck and claim a dramatic victory for Red Bull, as his rivals floundered with a series of tactical errors, in Sunday\u2019s chaotic and unpredictable Dutch Grand Prix. Amid wild celebrations at the packed Zandvoort circuit, with 105,000 orange-clad fans revelling in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-281782","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n