In scenes similar to Ayrton Senna winning in Brazil or Nigel Mansell’s Red 5 storming through Silverstone, Max Verstappen created magic amidst a sea of orange in Zandvoort as the Dutch Grand Prix returned after a 36 year-long hiatus. So, here are 5 things we learnt from the Dutch Grand Prix in 2021.
1. Max Verstappen is perhaps the world’s most talented 23-year-old
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What were you doing at the age of 23? Living with your parents, completing a great degree at University, or maybe asking questions about what life was all about? Well, Max Verstappen is dominating the world at the age of 23 and has just stamped his authority once again on the 2021 Formula One World Championship with a win for the ages in front of an incredible atmosphere of Dutch fans at his home race. Max soaked up all the pressure that was riding on his young shoulders to put on a driving masterclass with pole position and a dominant win as Zandvoort welcomed F1 back to the Netherlands after over three decades.
2. Zandvoort is now on the bucket list of every racing fan
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This image is perhaps enough proof that if you’re a sports or F1 fan, Zandvoort has to now be on your bucket list of Live sporting events to visit, for as long as Max Verstappen is in Formula One. A total of 72,000 fans celebrated and cheered every lap and move from Max Verstappen across the weekend with the orange army of fans and flames creating an atmosphere unlike any other on the current F1 calendar. The King & the Royal family were in attendance to watch their national hero, Max Verstappen take a lights-to-flag win and if the 23-year-old has a competitive car under him for the next decade, this could be THE Grand Prix that will be on EVERY fan’s list…and let’s not forget, the Dutch fans know how to celebrate and the Netherlands knows how to throw a party too!
3. Pierre Gasly is making a strong case to be one of the drivers of 2021
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Alpha Tauri are still the only team to have been in the points in EVERY race in 2021, and much of that is down to the form of Pierre Gasly who has been brilliant and consistent. While Sergio Perez won Driver of the Day for charging through the pack, for us, it should have gone to Gasly who didn’t put a foot wrong all weekend in Holland. He put together a stunning lap to put himself 4th on the grid and then held strong through the race to bring his Alpha Tauri home in 4th, ahead of both Ferraris and McLarens.
4. Goodbye Bottas…Hello Russell, at Mercedes F1
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For the longest time, questions to Lewis Hamilton about the rapid young Brit, George Russell, were met with vague answers that were often a bit cold and in favour of Valtteri Bottas, but things were a bit different in the Netherlands as Lewis was singing a different tune all of a sudden, calling Russell “the future of the sport” and said he would welcome him into the Mercedes team as his teammate. Bottas meanwhile expressed that he would like to sign a multi-year contract, and that was the final signal ahead of the announcement that he’s now heading out of Mercedes to Alfa Romeo in place of Kimi Raikkonen, paving the way for an exciting all-British line-up at Mercedes F1 for 2022…It’s ON!
5. Red Bull faces an Alex Albon dilemma
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F1’s silly season is in full swing and with only a few seats now left to fill for 2021, a few drivers are certainly on the hunt for a place at the pinnacle of Motorsport and former Red Bull star, Alex Albon is one of them. Albon is still part of the Red Bull program and has been competing in the competitive DTM series where he’s already notched up a win in his debut campaign and has been linked to a seat at Williams F1 for 2022. Except, there seems to be a spanner in the works for Red Bull as Mercedes have said they would see the deal through only if Red Bull release Albon from their contract with him. Albon’s future is at stake but so too, the gamesmanship between Toto Wolff and Christian Horner at Red Bull.
[Image Credit: Red Bull Content Pool]
Suhail Chandhok
Vertical Head - Sports