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    Dutch GP: Verstappen maintains perfect Zandvoort record with third win

    Max Verstappen was untouchable as he tied Sebastian Vettel’s record of nine consecutive wins at the Dutch Grand Prix.

    The reigning world champion was unfazed by downpours at the start and end of the race at Zandvoort, delivering another perfect performance at his home race.

    A strong start and another gritty drive saw Fernando Alonso finish second with Pierre Gasly capitalising on the weather to claim third for Alpine.

    Race Review

    Verstappen made the perfect start to lead into Tarsan ahead of Lando Norris and Alonso moving upto third.

    Rain arrived at the end of the opening lap with Sergio Perez, Zhou Guanyu and Gasly pitting immediately for intermediates and catapulting to the front of the field.

    Verstappen and Alonso waited for another lap before stopping while Russell, Albon and the two McLarens stayed out hoping the shower would pass.

    Norris joined the rest on intermediates while Oscar Piastri and Alex Albon were among several drivers to stay out on slicks.

    Dropping to fourth after his stop, Verstappen quickly caught Gasly and Zhou to run second behind Perez in the lead.

    By Lap 10, the pendulum began to swing back to those on slicks as the rain eased and the track began to dry.

    The issue was those who stayed out were over a minute behind the leader.

    Soon those on inters would pit for slicks with Verstappen pitting a lap before Perez to undercut the Mexican and retake the lead.

    Alonso ran third ahead of Gasly, but the Frenchman would be penalised five seconds for speeding in the pit lane.

    The big losers were Mercedes as Lewis Hamilton ran 16th and Russell down in 18th.

    A big crash for Logan Sargeant at Turn 8 triggered a Safety Car to bunch up the field.

    Verstappen retained the lead at the restart ahead of Perez, behind Magnussen lost several places as Albon moved upto sixth followed by Zhou and Esteban Ocon.

    Hamilton overtook a wounded Leclerc further down with the two McLarens on either side of the Mercedes as they recovered from getting the decisions wrong in the earlier rain.

    The race then settled with teams extending their stint as another shower heading towards the circuit.

    But it would miss to the south, leading to the final round of pit-stops started by Norris, Albon, Sainz and Perez.

    Gasly would serve his five-second penalty and continue in sixth, just holding off Russell out of the pits.

    Alonso and Verstappen would follow with the latter retaining the lead over Perez. Sainz’s earlier stop briefly moved him upto third before Fernando swooped back ahead into the podium places.

    A long stint on hard tyres promoted Russell into the top 10, as Hamilton also got ahead of Norris and Ocon to run behind his teammate.

    Another rainstorm delivered a twist with 12 laps to go, with Perez leading a stampede for intermediates, while Verstappen waited an extra lap.

    Max stayed ahead as a mistake from Perez at Tarsan promoted Alonso upto second as conditions significantly worsened.

    A hefty crash for Zhou at Turn 1 led to a Virtual Safety Car followed by a red flag with drivers aquaplaning off on intermediates.

    After a lengthy delay, the race resumed with two laps behind the Safety Car and every driver on intermediates.

    Verstappen led Alonso and Perez with six laps to go, but disaster struck for Perez who got a five-second penalty for speeding in pitlane.

    Russell picked up a puncture after contact with Norris at Turn 11, while Hamilton harried Sainz for P5 ahead.

    At the front, however, Verstappen was unchallenged in all conditions as he maintained his 100% win record at his home race.

    Alonso followed in second with Gasly promoted to the podium in third due to Perez’s penalty.

    The Mexican dropped to fourth as Sainz held off Hamilton in fifth and sixth. Norris was seventh ahead of Albon, Piastri and Ocon completed the top 10.

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