Max Verstappen Claims Home Victory in Chaotic Dutch Grand Prix
ZANDVOORT, THE NETHERLANDS – Max Verstappen secured a thrilling and historic win in the rain-soaked Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday, August 27th. The Red Bull Racing driver’s triumph matched Sebastian Vettel’s record streak of nine consecutive victories.
Verstappen’s victory, in front of his adoring home crowd at Circuit Zandvoort, was a remarkable display of skill and determination. Despite the challenging weather conditions, he navigated a chaotic and red-flagged race to secure his 11th win of the season. The Dutch driver’s dominant performance expanded his championship lead to 138 points over his teammate Sergio Perez, who finished fourth.
“I’m incredibly proud, I had goosebumps with the national anthem playing at the start,” Verstappen said, expressing his gratitude for the overwhelming support from his orange-clad fans. Red Bull team boss Christian Horner also commended Verstappen’s achievement, saying, “He’s done it, matched the nine victories of Sebastian, I mean what a performance today.”
The race, which was hampered by unpredictable weather, was a spectacle for the 305,000 fans in attendance over the weekend. Verstappen managed to maintain his stronghold over Zandvoort since its return to the F1 calendar, claiming his third consecutive victory from pole position.
In the midst of a thunderstorm, Verstappen executed a flawless start, fending off McLaren’s Lando Norris into the first turn. As the rain poured, several cars opted to switch from dry to wet tires. Perez briefly took the lead, but Verstappen quickly closed the gap, moving up to fourth place.
On a drying track, Verstappen and Perez both made their pit stops, with Verstappen regaining the lead. However, a crash by Williams driver Logan Sargeant prompted a safety car deployment on lap 16. The race resumed on lap 22, with Verstappen accelerating away from Perez as dark clouds loomed overhead.
In a twist of fate, heavy rain arrived towards the end of the race, leading to a flurry of pit stops and cars losing control. The race was ultimately red-flagged with eight laps remaining. After a 45-minute delay, the cars returned to the track for a seven-lap sprint to the finish line.
Verstappen managed to hold on to the lead and claim a hard-fought victory. With this win, the unstoppable Dutchman equals Vettel’s record of nine consecutive victories. Verstappen now eyes the upcoming race in Monza, where he will have the opportunity to set a new record for the longest winning streak in Formula One.
