Dutch Grand Prix – The Best / Worst of the Editorial Staff

The TOP 3:

1. Verstappen set the track on fire… and the stands too!

Verstappen was in “Mad Max” mode and nothing could stop him. Running for the first time in his F1 career at home, the Dutchman was determined to do well in front of his own people, and it’s fair to say that he didn’t miss his chance!

Despite a DRS issue in qualifying, the Red Bull driver manages to snatch pole position from his rival Lewis Hamilton, which will prove to be decisive.

Taking a great start, Max maintains the advantage gained the day before and manages his race calmly despite attempts to destabilize from the Mercedes team. Verstappen thus pockets his 17th career victory and takes back the lead of the world championship from Hamilton.

The duel continues for our greatest pleasure!

Let’s also mention the crazy atmosphere on site by the Dutch fans who entertained us even through our television screens. An atmosphere like this, we want more!

2. A Gasly in top form as the “Best of the rest”

The other driver who greatly impressed this weekend is once again our national Pierre Gasly. Behind the wheel of his modest AlphaTauri, the Frenchman continues to work wonders and his performance at Zandvoort was impeccable.

Author of the fourth time in qualifying, only surpassed by Verstappen and the two Mercedes, the Norman driver held his position in the race by being isolated from the rest of the pack after fending off the attacks of Charles Leclerc during the first laps of the race.

His performance enables AlphaTauri to stay in touch with Alpine and to pull away from Aston Martin in the battle for 5th place. Moreover, the way he outshines his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is absolutely remarkable and proves that he is getting the most out of his equipment.

To arrive in Monza, the land of his first Formula 1 victory last year, in more than optimal conditions!

3. A blazing start and a breathless finish: Fernando Alonso is well and truly back.

If some diehards could still doubt his return to the highest level, Fernando Alonso once again displayed his talent this weekend and silenced his critics.

Qualified in 9th position behind his teammate Estéban Ocon, the Spaniard made a magnificent takeoff to pull alongside the Frenchman in a very intense battle.

Two corners later, he takes the scalps of Ocon and Giovinazzi by making the most of Zandvoort’s bankings and is even on the verge of overtaking Sainz’s Ferrari, but a slight touch with his counterpart will calm the Alpine driver’s ardor.

But with a winning strategy, the two-time world champion will catch up to his compatriot and overtake him in the final laps of the race to finish in a superb 6th place!

No doubt possible: the Asturian Bull is back more hungry than ever!

The FLOP 3:

1. The overtakings went missing in Zandvoort.

If the layout of Zandvoort is absolutely magnificent to look at, especially during the timed lap exercise, it is important to highlight the cruel lack of excitement on the track, particularly in terms of overtaking.

With the exception of Sergio Pérez, who started from the pits with his Red Bull and made an impressive comeback, overtaking maneuvers were almost non-existent from the 3rd lap of the race.

An issue quite important as Formula 1 has been working for years to improve the show on the track.

Anyway, Zandvoort will have a second chance next year with the new regulations that should allow single-seaters to follow each other better. But this time, there will be no room for error!

2. Mercedes’ incomprehensible strategy

Usually king of strategy, Mercedes this time completely failed in terms of strategy during this Grand Prix of the Netherlands. Despite Verstappen’s pole position, Mercedes had the strategic advantage on paper of having, for once, both of its cars at the front, while Pérez’s Red Bull was once again far behind.

But unfortunately, the team at l’Etoile was too greedy in terms of tires to keep up with a Max Verstappen at his best on the distance. Aware of the impossibility of overtaking on the track, Mercedes tried to unsettle their Austrian counterpart through strategy by attempting the undercut very early in the race.

However, a concern at the front right delayed Hamilton in his pit stop and the attempt turned out to be unsuccessful. Leaving Bottas on track to bother the Dutch and allow the British champion to get closer, Mercedes once again didn’t succeed, Verstappen getting out of Hamilton’s DRS reach and easily passing the Finn.

In an almost desperate attempt, Toto Wolff’s men called Hamilton back to the pits very early to try again to pass Verstappen. However, the Briton came out in traffic and lost more time in the maneuver than he gained.

The seven-time world champion has indeed widely complained about his strategy in the press.

Tension is beginning to be felt in the German clan!

3. McLaren and Aston Martin suffer heavy losses

Among the disappointments of this Grand Prix, McLaren clearly fell back this weekend and lost heavily in the battle for third place against Ferrari.

Never really in the running throughout the various sessions, the British firm failed to do better in the race where Norris only brings back the meager point of 10th place, with Daniel Ricciardo following suit in 11th place.

If Sebastian Vettel had been deceiving in his recent Grand Prix by overexploiting the qualities of his single-seater, Aston Martin plummeted very low this weekend in Zandvoort. Non-existent from start to finish, both in qualifying and in the race, the green cars did not score a single point and finished the Grand Prix in anonymous 12th and 13th places, with Stroll ahead of Vettel.

A catastrophic operation considering the performances of Alpine and AlphaTauri this weekend, bringing their deficit to 31 points for the Italian team and 37 for the French team.

Highly anticipated and mandatory reaction from Monza for these two teams!