Last update on. From the section Formula 1
Red Bull's Max Verstappen won the Dutch Grand Prix by a decisive victory over Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes to regain the championship lead.
Verstappen was cheered by 65,000 home fans and led from pole position to comfortably keep Hamilton at bay.
After his seventh win in 2021, Hamilton is now three points ahead of the Dutchman.
Mercedes' Valtteri bottas came in third place, ahead Alpha Tauri's Pierre Gasly (Ferrari's Charles Leclerc) and Mercedes' Valtteri Botas (Mercedes).
Mercedes tried to make Verstappen look weak by putting Hamilton on a 2-stop strategy and then trying to use Bottas as a counter-strategie, but Red Bull was always in control.
Hamilton and Hamilton appeared to have some differences on the strategy, but their conversations were due to the fact that Verstappen had the extra pace to answer every Mercedes question.
Hamilton stated over the radio, "They were just to fast today," during the slowing down lap.
Verstappen's orange army created a unique atmosphere
What happened?
Verstappen led from the start and was 3.5 seconds ahead Hamilton when Mercedes pulled Hamilton in for a pit stop. This was too early to allow for the one-stop race.
Red Bull followed Verstappen's lead lap by lap, but Mercedes left Bottas behind and took the lead.
Hamilton and Verstappen were closing in on Hamilton, and Hamilton told Verstappen that he must defend himself if he wants to win the race.
Verstappen caught Bottas, but Bottas was too close to the chicane. Red Bull then closed in on Bottas and swept past the pit.
Bottas' hopes were over, Hamilton's were the same, even though Hamilton tried to fight back.
Hamilton was only two seconds behind after the 16th lap. This is close enough for Hamilton to consider the undercut strategy. Pit first, then use the grip of fresher tires to gain a spot.
Mercedes missed the opportunity and Verstappen won a second straight lap in lap 36-39. Mercedes then pitted Hamilton.
Red Bull responded on the next lap, fitting hard tyres instead of the mediums Hamilton used at his second stop. Verstappen maintained the lead.
Hamilton claimed that Mercedes had stopped Hamilton too early and that his tyres wouldn't go to the finish.
Mercedes suggested Mercedes manage them. He asked them if they were asking him to not race because he was trying to close the gap. At which point, they told him to continue.
Hamilton was just over a second faster than Verstappen while they lapped other cars. However, they dropped back once they were back on a straight track.
Hamilton's consolation came in the form of a pit stop late in the race to win the point for fastest lap.
The story was interesting because Mercedes pulled Bottas into the pit for a late stop and told him not to race for fastest lap. However, the Finn ignored the request.
James Vowles, the strategy director at Mercedes, called Bottas to ask him to "please abort" the fastest lap attempt. However, many will take this as an indication that George Russell will replace Bottas at Mercedes in the coming days.
Bottas later said he "didn’t go for" it - but he did withdraw in the last sector apparently to make it easier to Hamilton to claim it.
It didn't matter - Hamilton pitted the next lap to reclaim the point from his team-mate.
Many fans arrive by bicycle to the circuit, which is located next to a sandy beach.
Gasly stars again
Gasly, who had a remarkable fourth place finish on the grid, was able to match it with a comfortable drive to take him to the same place as Leclerc.
Fernando Alonso was a masterful driver, controlling the race and passing Carlos Sainz's second Ferrari to take sixth place in the final lap.
Sergio Perez of Red Bull was able to recover from a pit lane start and take eighth place. He is ahead of McLaren's Lando norris and Esteban Ocon's second Alpine.
Driver of the Day
A toss up between Alonso and Gasly. Gasly accomplished what Alpha Tauri sometimes fail to do by turning a great qualifying lap into a solid race result. Alonso displayed all of his race management and experience in managing his pace. Ocon was unhappy that he was slow at first, but then he pulled away and drove an excellent second stint to pass the Ferrari of Sainz. Alonso is just a little jealous of his three-place grid position, and the beating of a Ferrari that was clearly faster.
What's next?
In a week, the Italian Grand Prix. Hamilton's engineer stated that they would bounce back at Monza super-fast, but Verstappen is very difficult to beat right now.
