Netherlands GP F1 2022: Verstappen triumphs at home, Alonso races and bad day for Sainz

Max Verstappen has won the 2022 F1 Dutch Grand Prix, in his home race, where despite starting from the first position on the grid, the Red Bull driver did not have it easy. Hamilton, with a different strategy that had to be at one stop, put the champion on the ropes… but a Virtual Safety Car at the end saved him.

Although we were aware that Verstappen had the best pace on the track and that, starting from pole, it would be very difficult for someone to stop him, it was not easy for him. The reigning champion made a perfect start, closing the door on his main rival, Charles Leclerc, who continued in second position, followed by Carlos Sainz, who had to defend himself against a Hamiton with whom he came into contact.

The race has started in Zandvoort!@Carlossainz55 holds his THIRD POSITION after a small touch with Hamilton#DutchDAZNF1 🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/CXY0LpC38Y

— DAZN Spain (@DAZN_ES) September 4, 2022

The seven-time world champion, placed in fourth position, started with a different strategy, as did his teammate, George Russell, who was fifth. Starting with medium rubber, unlike the first three who were on soft, they would try to stretch their first ‘stint’ to make only one stop, one less than the rest.

And this was what put Red Bull on the ropes, which had to monitor what the star’s cars were doing at all times. With a stop on lap 18 to mount mediums, Verstappen left the lead in the hands of Hamilton, having already pitted Sainz – with a terrible stop of 18 seconds – and Leclerc just before.

BUT WHAT IS THIS? 😱😱😱😱😱@Carlossainz55 entered the pits and there was NO tire prepared. Total drama in Ferrari! #DutchDAZNF1 🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/P5gxld7ymd

— DAZN Spain (@DAZN_ES) September 4, 2022

The Ferraris, with the worst pace, fell into no man’s land and the fight focused on what Red Bull and Mercedes were doing. Hamilton and Russell, on a used tire, led the standings, while Verstappen came from behind. On lap 28, Max, with a significant pace advantage, easily passed Russell and was closing in on the leader – Hamilton – when Mercedes decided to stop the Briton.

Once he made what was going to be his only stop, Hamilton reduced the difference to less than the 19 seconds it takes to go through the pits with Verstappen, which gave him options to get back in the lead, since the Dutchman had to stop again

However, a virtual safety car due to a problem with Tsunoda’s car allowed Verstappen to pit with less time loss and he didn’t even lose position when he changed his tyres.

It was already assumed that Verstappen would have the race under control until the end, but a new incident, which this time was a safety car due to Valtteri Bottas abandoning the finish line in the middle of the finish line, complicated his life again.

Max took advantage of the situation to fit a soft tire and put the lead back in the hands of Hamilton who didn’t fit new tyres, which was terrible for his chances.

The advancement of @Carlossainz55 to Ocon just as Bottas stopped#DutchDAZNF1 🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/VlT6ofkzgD

— DAZN Spain (@DAZN_ES) September 4, 2022

On the restart, Verstappen took just a few seconds to overtake Hamilton. And a few laps later, his team-mate Russell, who had put on new tyres, also overtook Lewis to take second and try to close some gap on Verstappen. Minutes later, Hamilton also lost position to Leclerc.

After 72 laps, Verstappen crossed the finish line in the lead, followed four seconds behind by Russell and over six by Leclerc. Hamilton was eventually fourth and Sainz, although he crossed the finish line fifth, dropped to eighth through a penalty. Pérez moved into fifth place, with Alonso sixth, Norris seventh, Ocon ninth and Stroll tenth.

😱 @Carlossainz55 met with @alo_oficial in the pit lane 😬#DutchDAZNF1 🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/PKI1akeTSR

— DAZN Spain (@DAZN_ES) September 4, 2022

Sainz eighth and sanctioned, Alonso runs

The end of the race was fatal for Sainz, who, after having lost his chances of getting on the podium due to Ferrari’s terrible pit-stop, received a five-second penalty when he was fifth for an unsafe exit from the pit-lane. This penalty meant that the Spaniard had to settle for eighth place.

On the other hand, Fernando Alonso, who had started thirteenth, was the first driver to put on hard tires when he was eleventh after having overtaken Gasly and Tsunoda. Alpine’s strategy this time was brilliant and the Spaniard, maintaining battles throughout the race, finished in sixth position, beating drivers such as Sainz, Norris, Ocon or Stroll.

Results GP Netherlands F1 2022

The Formula 1 World Championship, led by Verstappen with an iron fist, will continue next Sunday with the Italian Grand Prix at the Monza Circuit.