Dutch Grand Prix: Max Verstappen Defiles Downpour-Hit Race To Win Ninth Successive Race

 

It was another race win for Max Verstappen at the Dutch Grand Prix as he dominated through despite the wet weather condition to win his record-equalling ninth races in a row.

The tricky weather condition at Zandvoort circuit which quickly changed from dry to very wet condition and drivers had to quickly pit for intermediate tyres as their pace were seriously impeded by the downpour.

Regardless of the wet condition, Verstappen stayed in the lead to win as Fernandes Alonso improved from behind to finish second and Pierre Gasly made his first ever podium finish in third. Verstappen now equalled the record that is held by Sebastian Vettel until now. 

In retrospect, a similar weather condition ensued at the qualifying session which Verstappen poled, and again at the final, though the race was red flagged for 40 minutes due to the downpour after Alfa Romeo's Zhou Guanyu skidded off the track to crash into the barriers, Verstappen yet dominated the restart on his intermediate tyres. 

With the chaotic weather condition, drivers will have to bring their experience into the race and the F1 defending champion did that very well, and likewise, former champion Alonso who improved from P6 to finish second. 

McLaren's Lando Norris was potentially affected by the wet condition, even though he did well in wet-dry conditions of the qualifying session, he dropped to seventh while Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton improved from 13th to finish sixth.