Zandvoort (OLANDA)
At the end of the Dutch GP, returned to the Zandvoort circuit after 36 years and won by the home favorite Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) – who was able to stay in the lead from the first to the last meter – a fact induces at least the reflection on how the wind has changed in F1: for the first time in the era of “Power Units”, the leader of the World Championship in the 13th race is not a Mercedes driver.
But Verstappen himself who, with yesterday’s success, overtook the ruler of the last few seasons, and reigning world champion, Lewis Hamilton. For the flying Dutchman, yesterday’s was the 17th victory of a dazzling career (the seventh this year), which transformed him into the driver with the most victories without having won a World Championship (overtaken Moss, stopped at 16).
Furthermore, Max became the first Dutchman to win a GP in his own country. Hamilton has nothing left to do but chase for the entire duration of the race, between one risk and another; the last one in the final stages of the race, when he was forced to take back the fastest lap which, shortly before, contrary to what was indicated by the Mercedes wall, team mate Valtteri Bottas had blown him. Together with the fastest lap, Hamilton would have lost the point in the Drivers’ World Championship which he recovered thanks also to a last but risky tire change. Yesterday, on his home track, the Dutch Red Bull dominated from the first to the last lap, leaving nothing to Hamilton, who still managed to remain glued to his rival, climbing on the second step of the podium. The Monegasque Charles Leclerc, in a Ferrari, was fifth; the other Ferrari driver, the Spaniard Carlos Sainz, placed seventh instead. –