Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB19 on track during the F1 Grand Prix of The Netherlands at Circuit Zandvoort on August 27, 2023 in Zandvoort, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

F1: Verstappen wins dry-wet-dry-wet Dutch GP

In a race that started dry, turned wet, then dry, then a deluge that caused a red flag, Max Verstappen drove brilliantly to win the Dutch GP for the third time in a row.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

A record 3-day partisan crowd of 305,000 braved the heavy rain and cheered on the 9th straight F1 win by Verstappen, tying the record held by Sebastian Vettel. It was Verstappen’s 46th career win and 11th win out of 13 races this year.

Anyone who did not enjoy this race must have had blinders on. The race had battles and passes throughout the field (over 100 passes), changeable weather conditions and chaos from start to finish.

Polesitter Verstappen put his #1 Red Bull Honda in the lead at the start, but lost it to teammate Sergio Perez who stopped for rain tires earlier, then battled back to the lead that stretched as high as 32.712s before heavy rain and a crash by Zhou Guanyu caused a red flag with 8 laps to go.

Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB19 leads Lando Norris of Great Britain driving the (4) McLaren MCL60 Mercedes, George Russell of Great Britain driving the (63) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team W14 and the rest of the field into turn one at the start during the F1 Grand Prix of The Netherlands at Circuit Zandvoort on August 27, 2023 in Zandvoort, Netherlands. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool
Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB19 leads Lando Norris of Great Britain driving the (4) McLaren MCL60 Mercedes, George Russell of Great Britain driving the (63) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team W14 and the rest of the field into turn one at the start during the F1 Grand Prix of The Netherlands at Circuit Zandvoort on August 27, 2023 in Zandvoort, Netherlands. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

The barriers down in Turn 1 had to be repaired from Zhou’s crash and Yuki Tsunoda was another to run off into the gravel down at Turn 1 in his #22 AlphaTauri.

ZANDVOORT, NETHERLANDS – AUGUST 27: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing fans show their support prior to the F1 Grand Prix of The Netherlands at Circuit Zandvoort on August 27, 2023 in Zandvoort, Netherlands. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202308270479 // Usage for editorial use only //
Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB19 makes a pitstop in the rain during the F1 Grand Prix of The Netherlands at Circuit Zandvoort on August 27, 2023 in Zandvoort, Netherlands. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool
Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB19 makes a pitstop in the rain during the F1 Grand Prix of The Netherlands at Circuit Zandvoort on August 27, 2023 in Zandvoort, Netherlands. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

After two laps behind the safety car, the order at the restart with 5 laps to go was Verstappen from Alonso, Perez from Gasly. Sainz, Hamilton, Norris, Russell, Albon and Piastri then rounded out the top 10.

Verstappen took the lead at the restart on a soaking wet track and stretched his lead to 3.744s over Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin at the finish.

Sergio Perez received a 5-second penalty for speeding on the pit lane that enabled Pierre Gasly to get the final podium position.

Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB19 leads Sergio Perez of Mexico driving the (11) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB19 during the F1 Grand Prix of The Netherlands at Circuit Zandvoort on August 27, 2023 in Zandvoort, Netherlands. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool
Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB19 leads Sergio Perez of Mexico driving the (11) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB19 during the F1 Grand Prix of The Netherlands at Circuit Zandvoort on August 27, 2023 in Zandvoort, Netherlands. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

Perez finished 4th and Carlos Sainz Jr. held off heavy pressure from Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes, who rounded out the top-5.

American rookie Logan Sargeant crashed his Williams for the 2nd day in a row early and finished last.  Many are beginning to question whether he is good enough for F1 and should move down to IndyCar.

Another driver who did not finish was the #16 Ferrari of Charles Leclerc with floor damage. “I think [the damage] was the result of the contact with Oscar [Piastri], it was very strange because it was very little [contact] but it must have touched a part that was very important aerodynamically.”

The Max Verstappen show. That’s what this season has shaped into, and there’s no denying his brilliance.

Red Bull have designed an incredible car, which the Dutchman is in total harmony with, but his teammate cannot touch Verstappen.

Verstappen has won every race since Miami, and the two Sprints in that period too.

Parc Ferme Top-3 Quotes

Max Verstappen

Today, they didn’t make it easy for us with the weather, to make all the right calls. I already had goose bumps when they were playing the anthem at the start. I’ll think about [the 10th win] next week, I just want to enjoy this one. The atmosphere is very special.

Fernando Alonso

It was a very intense race, with the wet conditions we were very, very fast. The car was flying today, very competitive, easy to drive. In these conditions, you need a car you can trust, and I did trust it today. This is a very special racetrack. Happy for Max, congratulations to everyone.

Pierre Gasly

What a race! It hasn’t been the easiest year, so to come back after the summer break, I’m super pleased for all the guys to get that P3. It was a very long race, very challenging but greatly executed from all the guys.

Christian Horner – Winning Red Bull Team Boss

The expectation on [Verstappen], how much noise and support that he’s had – everyone feels that, we feel that within the team. But he’s in the zone, he can focus on himself and get the job done. To match Sebastian, nine straight victories, to do it twice as a team is really incredible.

Race winner Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing (second from right), Second placed Fernando Alonso of Spain and Aston Martin F1 Team (L), Third placed Pierre Gasly of France and Alpine F1 (R) and Edward Aveling, Chief Designer at Red Bull Racing (second from left) celebrate on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of The Netherlands at Circuit Zandvoort on August 27, 2023 in Zandvoort, Netherlands. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool //
Race winner Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing (second from right), Second placed Fernando Alonso of Spain and Aston Martin F1 Team (L), Third placed Pierre Gasly of France and Alpine F1 (R) and Edward Aveling, Chief Designer at Red Bull Racing (second from left) celebrate on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of The Netherlands at Circuit Zandvoort on August 27, 2023 in Zandvoort, Netherlands. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

Race Results – 72 Laps

POS  DRIVER  NAT. TEAM  BEHIND
1 Max Verstappen NED Oracle Red Bull Racing 0.000s
2 Fernando Alonso ESP Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant 3.744s
3 Pierre Gasly FRA BWT Alpine F1 Team 7.058s
4 Sergio Perez MEX Oracle Red Bull Racing 10.068s
5 Carlos Sainz ESP Scuderia Ferrari 12.541s
6 Lewis Hamilton GBR Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team 13.209s
7 Lando Norris GBR McLaren F1 Team 13.232s
8 Alex Albon THA Williams Racing 15.155s
9 Oscar Piastri AUS McLaren F1 Team 16.580s
10 Esteban Ocon FRA BWT Alpine F1 Team 18.346s
11 Lance Stroll CAN Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant 20.087s
12 Nico Hulkenberg GER MoneyGram Haas F1 Team 20.840s
13 Liam Lawson NZL Scuderia AlphaTauri 26.147s
14 Kevin Magnussen DEN MoneyGram Haas F1 Team 26.410s
15 Valtteri Bottas FIN Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake 27.388s
16 Yuki Tsunoda JPN Scuderia AlphaTauri 29.893s
17 George Russell GBR Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team 55.754s
Zhou Guanyu CHN Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake DNF
Charles Leclerc MON Scuderia Ferrari DNF
Logan Sargeant USA Williams Racing DNF