Formula 1: Verstappen saves second place in the Piatri victory in Zandvoort

On the way to his first title Max Verstappen, Oscar Piatri spoiled the Oranje party in Zandvoort humorlessly – and benefited from a breakdown of his sharpest rival. With a safe start-finish victory, the Australian clearly expanded its World Cup lead in the McLaren.

Because behind him did not finish the teammate Lando Norris, long in second place. The Briton resigned a few rounds before the end, it smoked in his McLaren. An oil leak stopped the British and gave him a heavy damper in the fight for the Formula 1 World Cup.

Norris-Pechs was Verstappen, who was more than the expected maximum at the Netherlands Grand Prix. Third came to Isack Hadjar in his rookie year for in Red Bull’s second team Racing Bulls.

Verstappen has been waiting for a win for more than three months. The successful title defense has long since become unlikely against Piatri for the 27 -year -old four -time champion. If seasonal runs are still nine, the former permanent winner is 104 points behind Piatri. And Norris now has 34 points less before the next Grand Prix in a week in Monza, Italy. Nico Hülkenberg remained in clean without World Cup points.

Five double successes of a team had lasted for the start of the season in 2019, at that time the Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas made for Mercedes. McLaren is only the third team in the long Formula 1 story, which this special achievement even achieved. At first it was a success in Ferrari in 1952.

Verapen’s risk brings only a short success

In front of tens of thousands of compatriots, everything risked Verstappen at the start. He was the only one of the top ten to get started with the softer soft tires and absolutely wanted to pass the McLaren duo on the 161 meters to the first curve. After a wild attack including a small slip, he grabbed at least afterwards Norris and just avoided such a departure.

Piatri kept the top position and rushed off Verstappen quickly, behind it in turn lost to the four -time champion on the spectacular dune course on the North Sea. Norris had won in the Netherlands last year, Verstappen the three years earlier. What unites them: The Grand Prix Triumph on the narrow piste near Amsterdam they each reach the pole position.

McLaren again “in their own world”

In the ninth of 72 rounds, Norris overtook Verstappen quite effortlessly and restored the starting order. In the days before, McLaren had left the best impression in the first race after the three -week summer break. “You are driving in your own world,” said Sky expert Ralf Schumacher early in the race.

In errors, Piatri spent his program off at the top when only slight rain slowly started. There was great concern before the start that wet conditions could cause chaos. In any case, it was difficult to drive due to quite strong wind, but the precipitation was very limited.

Hamilton crashes into the gang after driving errors

Nevertheless, Lewis Hamilton lost control in the 24th round, crashed into the limitation after a steep curve and could not continue. “I’m sorry, boys,” the 40-year-old Brit sparked to his team. The record world champion was eliminated early since moving from Mercedes in the Scuderia car. The following safety car phase used the competition for a problem-free tire change, the field also moved together again.

After the RESTART, nothing changed at the top. Piatri effortlessly managed the lead in front of Norris, Verstappen did not get closer and did not have to fear any great danger from behind. To do this, Carlos Sainz slashed the tire to his opponent Liam Lawson and also ruined his own race. Both fell back to the end of the field, Sainz even got a ten-second penalty.

The second Ferrari also leaves out

While the places were also fought hard in midfield, there was boredom at the very front. The 24 -year -old Piatri claimed his lead with just more than a second, a good ten seconds followed Verstappen. Even the second tire change did not have a tension because the next Safety car phase could be used for this.

Charles Leclerc in Ferrari and Kimi Antonelli collided in the Mercedes, and the Grand Prix was also over for Leclerc. The mistake was with the 19 -year -old Antonelli, Ferrari brought no car to the finish a week before the home game. At the subsequent re-start, Verstappen wanted to attack Norris, but failed and had to let the World Cup leaders go. But then it smoked in the Norris car and the Grand Prix once again took a decision with influence on the World Cup fight.