MOTORSPORT: Verstappen’s wins at home

Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen has continued his charge towards defending his Formula 1 crown, winning his second straight Dutch Grand Prix at the Circuit Zandvoort from pole position with the fastest race lap.

However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing en route to his 10th victory from the 15 races contested to date in 2022, with the race interrupted by both a virtual and a full safety car, which placed an emphasis on optimising pit strategy.

“It's always special to win your home Grand Prix. It was already last year. This year, I have to say I had to work for it even more,” said Verstappen.

“It was not a straightforward race, we had to push the whole race.

“Of course, with the safety car, virtual safety car, making the right calls, it was always a bit of a question mark, but it worked out really well.

“Once we got back to the soft tyres we had great pace again.”

Verstappen jumped into the lead off the race start, while on the second circuit, Kevin Magnussen’s Haas tapped the wall entering Tarzan Corner, but continued.

From third position on lap 15, Ferrari pitted Carlos Sainz, however, with his new left rear tyre not ready, the slow stop sent the Spaniard tumbling down the order, with Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull running over Ferrari’s pit equipment after completing his own stop.

On lap 36 of 72, Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) engaged in a battle with Perez, before the seven-time world champion made the move stick on the next lap into the first corner, with the squabble complicated by Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin) rejoining from the pits directly in front of the duo.

Yuki Tsunoda slowed after his pit stop on lap 44, stopped and restarted, before ultimately being called to a halt on circuit by his AlphaTauri crew who identified a problem, necessitating a virtual safety car, with the majority of the leaders using the opportunity to head to the pits.

The complexion of the race changed on lap 55 when Valtteri Bottas stopped his Alfa Romeo on the main straight, which brought the safety car onto the circuit.

Under the interruption, Sainz’s tough day in pit lane was capped with an unsafe release into the path of Fernando Alonso (Alpine), with a post-race penalty relegating him three positions.

With Verstappen ducking into the pits for fresh tyres, Hamilton took the lead, although was immediately passed at the restart, as he struggled on his older medium compound Pirellis.

Subsequently, between laps 63 and 66, Hamilton would be passed by both his teammate George Russell and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

At the finish, it was Verstappen from Russell, Leclerc, Hamilton, Perez, Alonso, Lando Norris (McLaren), Sainz, Esteban Ocon (Alpine) and Lance Stroll, who registered his fifth tenth place result of the year for Aston Martin.

Daniel Ricciardo’s tough season continued after being classified in 17th at the chequered flag.

There’s no rest for the Formula 1 teams, with the tour completing its triple-header of events next weekend with the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

Elsewhere, Scott McLaughlin dominated the Indycar field at Portland, winning his third race of the season from pole position, leading 104 of 110 laps.

The Kiwi will enter next weekend’s season finale at Laguna Seca as one of five drivers capable of taking the title, with his Team Penske teammate Will Power holding down a 20-point advantage at the top of the standings.

2022 Dutch Grand Prix results:

2022 Formula 1 championship standings: