Netherlands Race Reaction
Image: Red Bull Content Pool
Well, where do we even start? What a race we’ve been treated to at Zandvoort this weekend! Records equalled, wet weather chaos, a return to the podium and a healthy amount of spins and crashes thrown in and you’ve got yourself the perfect return from the summer break.
Max Verstappen lifted the trophy in front of his home crowd to win his ninth race in a row; with another nine left, who knows how high that number will go. One thing’s for sure - Red Bull and Max aren’t stopping any time soon and won’t be lifting their foot off the gas until the silverware is theirs.
There’s a whole load of action to cover, so let’s get stuck right in.
North Holland’s Clouds Cause Commotion
If there’s been any race this year to demonstrate how weather can affect strategy, pecking order and on-track action, it’s this one. As soon as the five red lights went out, we could see drops of rain on the TV cameras - everyone had started on Softs (bar Hamilton, on mediums) and as lap one came to a close, it was a race to get into the pits for almost half the grid.
There were some dicey moves made, notable by Alonso to take P3 from Russell, who he just lost out to in qualifying on Saturday. Albon fell down a couple of places, clearly struggling to generate sufficient heat in the tyres. Pérez was the first to box for Red Bull.
Leader Verstappen decided to stay out, which could have ended catastrophically, as the rain came down heavier and heavier by the second. He eventually dove into the pits for Intermediate tyres at the end of lap two, leaving Norris to lead the Grand Prix - although only temporarily as he’d be overtaken by Russell at Turn 1.
With eleven drivers on Inters by lap 3, we witnessed something that we don’t often see in this sport - drivers on slick and wet compounds fighting for position. The sheer pace and extra grip of those on the green-ringed rubber was very apparent. Zhou found himself running P2 after pitting early, having to fend off a charging Verstappen a few laps later. Pérez made a sweeping and effortless move past George Russell, who was struggling on slicks as the track became wetter.
Image: Formula One
For the majority of the rest of the race, threats of more rain were frequent but didn’t actually come to a head and allowed the drivers some comfortable Soft tyre stints. Lap 60 came around however and it poured down even thicker and faster, sending the likes of Tsunoda and Pérez into the gravel at Turn 1.
Alfa Romeo driver Zhou Guanyu found himself aquaplaning at quite some speed into the barriers of the first corner, a reported 19G head-on impact. Poor Zhou seems to get into some hefty impacts from time to time.
The weather in Zandvoort provided some thoroughly entertaining action and strategy calls, so as much as the drivers would rather be out there in clear and dry circumstances, we’ve got the North Sea and its turbulent conditions to thank for some great racing.
Alonso’s Return To Form
Cooped up in their base of operations in Silverstone over the summer break, the Aston Martin R&D team must’ve been working themselves to the bone to bring vital upgrades to the car and get back on the podium. This weekend, star driver Fernando Alonso has put their qualms to rest by putting in an amazing drive and using his experience to fight through the field in dynamic conditions.
Qualifying fifth, Spain’s hero made opening moves to put himself third in the running order and staying there most of the race, until he moved up to P2 after Pérez aquaplaned off into the escape road of Turn 1 on lap 63.
Fernando crossed the line to take the second podium spot, giving fighting words over the radio as he pulled into the pits.
“We will win one race soon - we’re getting closer”
Ups And Downs For Williams
Currently having their best year in recent memory, Williams are slowly becoming an excitingly competitive team and the support for this grassroots squad is immense; now is a great time to be a Williams fan!
After qualifying fourth and tenth respectively, Albon and Sargeant would’ve gone into this GP with high hopes. On one hand, Logan’s car had a sudden loss of hydraulic pressure, causing power steering failure and therefore sending him wide at Turn 8, veering into the wall and ending his race sixteen laps in. On the other hand, Alex Albon had a brilliant race, consistently running in the top ten and performing some lovely moves, notably around the outside of good friend George Russell.
All in all, Williams have had a mixed weekend - however they’ll be looking ahead to Monza where the slipperiness of their FW45 will be put on full display on the straights.
Improvise, Adapt, Overcome
Young New Zealander Liam Lawson put the gloves on and buckled in for his first ever Formula One race, in place of injured Daniel Ricciardo. Unfortunately, the 8-time race winner won’t be able to return for the Italian Grand Prix, the site of his last race win to date.
Lawson put in a commendable performance, ending up in P13 after qualifying in dead last. What a race to be your first though, huh?
Despite the adversity of the weather thrown at him, the Formula 2 and Super Formula race winner muscled his way up seven positions - one overtake of which most notably on Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz!
Off To Italia!
We’ve had quite the Dutch Grand Prix this year, haven’t we? There were a few records broken, namely:
Fernando Alonso having the longest period between first and most recent career podium: An eye-watering 7399 days, or twenty years, three months and two days
Most overtakes in one racing lap: 63 (prev. 45)
Most overtakes in a Grand Prix: 186 (prev. 170)
