Aside from Max Verstappen's determination to make the 2022 F1 title battle a one-horse race, there was plenty to keep observers interested at the Dutch Grand Prix. mattkewF1 explains what we learned from Zandvoort 📝
The capacity crowd at Zandvoort was treated to exactly what it wanted as Max Verstappen triumphed on home soil to take his win tally for 2022 into double digits. For those watching on TV, they were treated to what they wanted too as, after the race initially appeared to be a damp squib, it evolved beautifully into a tactical grudge match with a satisfying late pass for the spoils.
It would take a spectacular and unprecedented downfall for Verstappen not to have his name engraved on the championship trophy for a second time in a row. With that in mind, perhaps it’s the record books that are next to be in need of rewriting. That was the theory, and while Charles Leclerc snared a podium and Carlos Sainz’s cause was significantly stymied by a botched pitstop and 5s penalty for an unsafe release, Ferrari was all too quickly ruled out as a serious threat for victory. Leclerc seemingly kept Verstappen honest during the opening 10 laps as his gap to the leader hovered just above 1s, but then the defending champion lit the touch paper and disappeared well beyond DRS range.
After his win in Monaco plus outqualifying Verstappen in Azerbaijan, Perez’s stock was soaring as he appeared to have mastered the return of ground-effects in F1. He had a two-year contract extension at Red Bull to show for it as the Mexican appeared to have resolved the lingering problem concerning the second seat at the team.It can be argued that he was fortunate to sign when he did.
The pace was better than expected, and even helped Mercedes commit to a white-walled strategy that put it in position to challenge for victory. Alpine, though, got there first. In the process, Alonso pipped Norris to further consolidate the ‘best of the rest’ ranking in the standings.Motorsport ImagesThat Mercedes was the closest challenger to Red Bull in the Dutch GP and not Ferrari was not solely forged off the back of its starting tyre strategy.
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