F1 Dutch Grand Prix: Max Verstappen overtakes fuming Lewis Hamilton to win home race
Follow all the reaction from the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort as Max Verstappen wins his home race in dramatic fashion
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Max Verstappen overtook Lewis Hamilton with 12 laps remaining to win a thrilling Dutch Grand Prix - his second victory in a row at his home circuit and fourth consecutive win this season - to extend his lead in the Formula One championships standings.
In a throwback to last season’s title battle, the defending champion pitted for soft tyres under a late safety car and emerged behind Hamilton ahead of the restart. When the race resumed, Verstappen was swift in making his move around the outside of Hamilton and surged to a victory that seemed at risk at points during the race.
Hamilton’s task might have been easier had team-mate George Russell not pitted from second, however, and the seven-time champion was left fuming with Mercedes as he was left a sitting duck on old tyres. Hamilton was passed by Russell and then Charles Leclerc and was furious with his team for being the only driver left on medium tyres.
Leclrec salvaged a podium on what was another nightmare race for Ferrari, as Carlos Sainz saw his chances end thanks to a 12-second pit stop early on.
Follow all the action here with The Independent:
F1 Dutch Grand Prix: Toto Wolff...
“We are the trash bin for the driver, every emotion comes out. We discussed in the morning we’ll take a risk for the race win. Holding position was the right thing to do. I’d rather take the risk.
“We would have had both on the old tyre. The Red Bull has so much straight line speed, on the same tyre we were not winning.
“There’s so much more positives to take. Second and fourth is annoying but we had a good race car. You have to take risks where you are. Tsunoda breaking down... speechless.
“Sometimes it works for you, sometimes it doesn’t. It’s motor racing, the decisions from race control were spot on. Here was a good track for us. We’re going to try the maximum. If we finish second it’s good motivation for the team but my eyes are on next year.”
F1 Dutch Grand Prix: Charles Leclerc...
“We were a bit unlucky with the VSC. Lewis was struggling at the end and I managed to overtake him. It wasn’t easy but we made it stick.
“The gap is really big. We’ll take it race by race, maximise our potential...”
F1 Dutch Grand Prix: George Russell...
“As a team today we showed incredible pace. This gives us a lot of confidence going forward. We’re slowly getting towards that top step!”
F1 Dutch Grand Prix: Max Verstappen...
“It was not a straightforward race, we had to push and make the right calls. Once we got back to the soft tyres...
“I had a good run on the restart, we timed it really well out of the banking and we got ahead. Incredible to win again.
“It’s always special to win your home Grand Prix, an incredible weekend. Unbelievable weekend, proud to be Dutch!”
F1 Dutch Grand Prix: Final standings!
1. Max Verstappen
2. George Russell
3. Charles Leclerc
4. Lewis Hamilton
5. Sergio Perez
6. Fernando Alonso
7. Lando Norris
8. Carlos Sainz
9. Esteban Ocon
10. Lance Stroll
F1 Dutch Grand Prix: MAX VERSTAPPEN WINS THE DUTCH GRAND PRIX!
To the acclaim of an adoring home crowd, Max Verstappen wins his home race once again and extends his lead in the World Championship!
George Russell comes home second, with Charles Leclerc third.
Hamilton fourth; Sainz is relegated down to eighth after that penalty!
F1 Dutch Grand Prix: Lap 72/72 - Verstappen, Russell, Leclerc
Final lap and Max Verstappen is safely out in front of George Russell - the gap is over four seconds!
Leclerc is 1.2 seconds ahead of a fuming Hamilton, while Sainz’s five-second penalty could see him tumble out the points!
F1 Dutch Grand Prix: Lap 70/72 - Verstappen, Russell, Leclerc
Big news for Carlos Sainz - he’s been given a five-second time penalty for that unsafe release! Currently running in fifth, that’ll put him outside the top-10! It’s been a torrid afternoon for the Ferrari man!
Sergio Perez then goes slightly onto the gravel trying to overtake Sainz, but he technically doesn’t need to!
Three laps to go...
F1 Dutch Grand Prix: Lap 66/72 - Verstappen, Russell, Leclerc
Hamilton isn’t even going to finish on the podium - Leclerc has superior pace on soft tyres and overtakes the Mercedes down the main straight! The Ferrari up to third...
What a horrendous few laps for Hamilton - he’ll be raging inside that Mercedes cockpit.
4-10: Hamilton, Sainz, Perez, Alonso, Norris, Ocon, Stroll
F1 Dutch Grand Prix: Lap 64/72 - Verstappen, Russell, Hamilton
Russell overtakes Hamilton down the main straight - but almost runs into the back of his Mercedes team-mate!
Russell much quicker on softs - and he’ll now target Verstappen. Hamilton, meanwhile, furious with his own team for pitting Russell and making the overtake after the safety car period much easier for Verstappen! Gap between Verstappen and Russell is three seconds.
Hamilton really struggling on mediums now, with Charles Leclerc in fourth right on his tail...
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