Mercedes desperate and Verstappen a champion? - What we learned at the Dutch GP
Mercedes desperate and Verstappen a champion? - What we learned at the Dutch GP
What an incredible weekend the Dutch Grand Prix provided as F1 turned orange to watch Max Verstappen take victory at Zandvoort.
The sport's 36-year wait to return to the Netherlands proved to be worth it for the 70,000 fans at the track each day who were able to see their home hero claim a comfortable win.
Despite what appeared to be a race devoid of too much action, there are plenty of talking points to emerge from the second event of the second triple-header of the season, so here are five things we learned.
Verstappen lays down title gauntlet
This was the Verstappen and Red Bull dominance we saw at the Red Bull Ring two months ago and led us to suggest then the team had one hand on the title.
The gap between Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton was never more than four seconds before the seven-time champion's final pit stop for a fastest lap attempt, yet there was a sense he was a cat playing with a mouse.
At various stages, Hamilton would close down the gap to the Dutchman only for Verstappen to in pump a time. It was clear he had the full measure of his title rival.
Qualifying may have been close, yet Verstappen suffered with a lack of DRS and a double-upshift, suggesting there was actually a gulf in class between the two teams over the weekend.
A very different circuit awaits next weekend in Italy and Mercedes will have to take victory on merit in order to quell suggestions it could be an easy run-in for Red Bull.
Mercedes strategy becoming desperate
Speaking of Mercedes, again we emerge from a race questioning a strategy call from the Silver Arrows.
At one stage during the second stint of the race, Hamilton had used traffic to close the gap between himself and Verstappen to around one and a half seconds.
Mercedes waited for three laps for Verstappen to make the gap three seconds before pulling the trigger to try and undercut, only to feed their driver into a three-car jam.
That in itself was a mistake, although the team recognised it was a gamble. But if so, why not take that gamble when the gap was able to be overhauled? It made no sense.
The caveat is there was, in all likelihood, no way of defeating Verstappen but at least give yourself a chance.
Ferrari holds upper hand over McLaren
A great weekend for Ferrari was slightly dampened by Fernando Alonso's move on Carlos Sainz for sixth on the last lap.
Nevertheless, with McLaren only mustering a 10th and 11th, the fight for third has swung firmly in the Scuderia's favour.
After being level going into the summer break, the gap now stands at 11.5 points. What is enthusing for the Italian outfit is the car is beginning to look quick at every track.
Engine power is still the primary issue for the team but the deficit to the other PU suppliers is negligible in comparison to a year ago.
The only regret the team will have is sitting behind Pierre Gasly at Zandvoort. Will it rue not taking full advantage of McLaren's sluggishness come Abu Dhabi?
Haas falling apart at the seams
Some serious fissures are appearing at Haas between Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin after yet another tumultuous weekend for the back-of-the-grid duo.
Tempers flared in qualifying when Schumacher passed Mazepin on their final out laps in Q1, a move the Russian claimed went against unwritten in-house protocol.
Mazepin's gripe was that he said he was given a "bollocking" when breaking the code in Imola, yet feels the harshness of tone was not reciprocated when Schumacher broke the rule in Austria.
So when the German again overtook Mazepin when it was his turn to lead, the latter was furious.
What he didn't know was that his team-mate was told to overtake in order to build tyre temperature. A team failing on communication? Maybe, but the relationship between drivers is breaking down.
To make matters worse, the pair collided in the opening stages of the grand prix. Schumacher has said he doesn't believe the relationship can be patched up.
It has to be, with the most important winter of the team's short history incoming, both drivers have to pull together to again propel Haas up the grid.
Zandvoort excels but race judgement must be withheld
Was the race a tad dull? Maybe. But there was genuine overtaking through the field, even if the TV direction - correctly - focused on the home hero's fluctuating gap at the front to Hamilton.
What has to be said is the organisation at the circuit was superb. The fans? Excellent. Atmosphere? Second to none.
The cars looked like rocket ships on track for the first time in a long time. The narrow, high-speed sweeps of Zandvoort really did justice to what these 20 drivers do for a living - they were made to look like rock stars all weekend.
Qualifying laps were scintillating. Let's hope the 2022 cars can allow for cars to follow closer next year because Zandvoort was a blast.
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Wolff opens up on WHY Mercedes are 'very bad'
- 31 minutes ago
F1 winner Sainz shares RAW images from surgery and recovery
- 1 hour ago
Hamilton and Cullen F1 fairytale COULD happen as clues reveal how
- 1 hour ago
F1 News Today: Vettel CONFIRMS stunning comeback as Red Bull boss issues Verstappen statement
- Today 05:57
Hamilton fired serious warning by Wolff as F1 star takes aim at controversial FIA decision - GPFans F1 Recap
- Yesterday 23:57
F1's quirkiest star begins selling ICE CREAM in latest venture
- Yesterday 22:57
F1 Race Calendar
-
GP BAHRAIN
29 Feb - 2 Mar
Max Verstappen
-
GP SAUDI ARABIA
7 - 9 Mar
Max Verstappen
-
GP AUSTRALIA
22 - 24 Mar
Carlos Sainz
- GP JAPAN 5 - 7 Apr
- GP CHINA 19 - 21 Apr
- GP USA 3 - 6 May
- GP ITALY 17 - 19 May
- GP MONACO 24 - 26 May
Related news
Mercedes chief lifts lid on Hamilton qualifying struggle
Zandvoort to be EXTENDED in 2024 amid rising success of the Dutch Grand Prix
Verstappen on course for ANOTHER record as Russell suffers worst Mercedes result ever
A-list celebrity photo with Sky Sports F1 pundit gets ROYAL approval
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860