Mad Max had achieved the double pole position – victory last year, for the return of the GP of the Netherlands after 36 years of absence. Max Verstappen did it again this Sunday at Zandvoort with incredible fervor. Under the cheers of 305,000 supporters, the child of the country won ahead of George Russell (Mercedes) and the Monegasque of Ferrari Charles Leclerc. Enough to accentuate his lead in the general classification after fifteen GPs. He is now 109 points ahead of his pursuers Leclerc and Sergio Perez (Red Bull), tied on points (201 points each).
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. Lewis Hamilton lost the lead on the consecutive safety car restart (61st of 72 laps) due to a misjudgment regarding his tyres. The Briton with overly worn medium tires tried to avoid a third pit stop, unlike his colleague Russell and Max Verstappen, on fresh soft tyres. Under the dumbfounded gaze of his team, he failed in 4th place.
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.
Note the return to a podium of Leclerc. Winner in Austria in early July, he then retired at Le Castellet before finishing 6th twice in Budapest and Spa.
The French Esteban Ocon (Alpine) and Pierre Gasly (Alpha Tauri) – 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.
