04/09/2022
NEWS STORY
Unlike last weekend, in terms of the grid, what you see is what you get, there are no grid penalties so everyone starts where they qualified.
As is so often the case, the start and the lap that follows will be crucial, and in view of the pace of Verstappen's RB18 probably the only opportunity for the opposition to get the jump on the world champion before he disappears into a cloud of orange smoke.
With one Ferrari alongside and another behind, the Dutchman will have his work cut out, especially with the Silver Arrows in close attendance.
Toto Wolff, bless him, believes that the front row, even pole, was possible for Hamilton yesterday, so what better opportunity for the Stevenage Rocket to prove his boss correct.
Of course, other than how they actually get away, the other important factor is strategy, particularly in terms of whether it is going to be a one-stop race or two stopper... but more of that later.
Behind the leading group comes Norris, who heads Schumacher, Tsunoda, Stroll, Gasly and the Alpine pair.
McLaren really needs a result today if it is to stay in touch with its French rival in the battle for best of the rest, the tussle over Oscar Piastri giving the situation added spice.
Qualifying 17th, Ricciardo has a golden opportunity to prove his worth this afternoon, as does Schumacher who starts from 8th. Both have yet to secure contracts for 2023, and time is rapidly running out.
The good news is that while Verstappen heads into today's race as favourite it is not going to be the walkover he enjoyed seven days ago. That said, his rivals will not have slept easy last night after seeing how he and his team were able to turn things around after Friday's disaster.
The main threat has to come from Ferrari, but as ever reliability remains a concern, as does strategy, despite the fact that nobody is willing to admit the Scuderia has a problem in that department... and had had for some time.
At a time Liberty is increasingly looking to anonymous street tracks, Zandvoort remains one of those fabulous 'old school' circuits, one that tests both man and machine.
Furthermore, though they can get carried away at times, it is great to see the passion the Orange Army brings to the sport, a passion which sets us up nicely for the likes of Monza and Suzuka.
The 72-lap Grand Prix is quickest on paper as a two-stopper, but that doesn't exclude a one-stopper.
If going for a two-stopper, starting on the soft is a good idea. This could then be followed by two stints on the medium (if enough medium tyres are available within a driver's allocation, as is the case for Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes) or one stint on the medium with a final stint on the soft again.
A one-stopper could either be medium to hard or soft to hard (to have some extra speed at the beginning of the race). A soft-medium one-stopper is also possible, but it's marginal for wear life, with a lot of pace management required.
Starting on the medium gives different options, but either a one-stopper or a two-stopper is still achievable even if starting on the soft.
There are a few variables affecting these theoretical calculations, such as the amount of degradation on the soft tyre and the amount of grip on the hard.
This is an old-school circuit with not much run-off, and the action so far suggests that a safety car could be likely - which means a cheap pit stop.
With this year's generation of cars and tyres helping to overtake, track position might not be the priority that it was before: this could favour some more aggressive two-stop strategies.
One more point: at 60kph, the pit lane speed limit is lower here than at most other tracks, meaning that it takes a bit longer to make a pit stop.
The pitlane opens and the drivers begin to head out. Among the last out is Verstappen... but when he does appear the crowd roars. The last to take his place on the grid is Hamilton.
Following his spin at the end of Q3 yesterday, Red Bull opted to change Perez' engine overnight.
Ahead of the formation lap the air temperature is 23 degrees C, while the track temperature is 34 degrees. Though bright there is lot of cloud, with race control advising that there is a 20% chance of rain.
All are starting on softs bar Hamilton, Russell, Norris, Schumacher, Albon and Magnussen who are on mediums. Verstappen is on fresh softs, while the Ferraris and Perez are on used.
They head off on the formation lap. As Verstappen leads the field around the circuit the noise from the crowd is deafening.
It has suddenly clouded over.
The grid forms.
They're away! Verstappen moves across the track to cover Leclerc, and as the head into Turn 1, the Dutchman leads the Monegasque and his Spanish teammate. However, is on the inside and as they round the corner there is contact between the Mercedes and Sainz, causing the rear end of Hamilton's car to momentarily wobble.
Behind these are Perez, who has Russell and Norris battling behind. Strong starts from Stroll and Ocon.
At the end of lap 1, it's: Verstappen, Leclerc, Sainz, Hamilton, Perez, Norris, Russell, Stroll, Ocon and Schumacher.
Magnussen runs wide at Turn 2and clouts the barrier but appears able to continue. Indeed, he reports that the car is fine.
After 2 laps Verstappen is already 1.1s clear of Leclerc.
Russell has passed Norris to retake sixth, and is now 2.1s down on Perez.
Unusually, Alonso had a disappointing start and is currently running 13th behind Gasly.
Hamilton is closing on Sainz as the mediums begin to come into their own.
In tenth, Schumacher heads a DRS train of 7 cars.
Lap 6 sees Leclerc post a new fastest lap (16.213) as he maintains a 1.2s gap to the leader.
At the start of lap 10, Alonso sweeps past Gasly on the pit straight to claim 12th, as Russell reports that the track is very green but with "rubber-in".
In tenth, Schumacher has broken free of the DRS train and has a 1.7s comfort cushion over Tsunoda.
Vettel pits and rejoins the race in 20th.
A bold move sees Magnussen pass Latifi at Turn 1 for 18th.
"Some runners showing high deg," Norris is told as Ricciardo and Gasly both pit.
Alonso pits at the end of lap 12, as does Zhou. The Spaniard switches to hards as he rejoins in 16th.
Out front, Verstappen has a 2.5s lead while Hamilton remains 0.6s down on Sainz.
Schumacher, Tsunoda and Latifi pit at the end of lap 13. There's an issue for Schumacher, and as a result he rejoins in 18th.
Sainz pits at the end of lap 14, as does Perez. It's a dreadful stop for the Spaniard who rejoins in 11th - it's as if the team were not ready for him.
Replay suggests they didn't have the rear-right tyre ready, while Perez went over the wheel gun.
Never mind Carlos, there's nothing wrong with Ferrari's strategy... so you keep assuring us.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Zandvoort here.
"Tyres are not too bad," reports Verstappen.
The stewards have noted that Zhou speeded in the pitlane.
Stroll and Bottas pit at the end of lap 16, as Leclerc reports that his tyres are not great.
He subsequently pits, rejoining in fourth on mediums. Norris also stops, the McLaren driver rejoining in 9th on hards.
Verstappen pits at the end of lap 18, the world champion rejoining in third, 10s down on race leader Hamilton.
Lap 19 sees a new fastest lap from 5th placed Perez.
Asked what happened at Sainz' pit stop, Mattia Binotto replies: "A mess".
Zhou is handed a 5s time penalty for speeding in the pitlane.
Now Verstappen goes quickest (15.904), as he closes to within 4.4s of Russell.
Like the Mercedes pair, Albon has yet to stop... at which point he does just that, rejoining in 16th on mediums.
The stewards will investigate that pitlane incident involving Sainz and Perez after the race.
Enjoying a 3.6s lead, Hamilton askes where he is losing time. He is told under braking in Turn 11.
"Start to eek up on Russell," Verstappen is told.
"We believe Hamilton may try a one stop," Leclerc is advised.
"This is looking good Lewis," the seven-time champ is told. Indeed, despite being on tyres almost 20 laps fresher Verstappen is struggling to keep pace with Russell.
At which point, Verstappen suddenly closes on the Mercedes and appears to catch the Briton off guard, he sweeps by around the outside in Turn 2 to claim second much to the delight of the crowd.
Ricciardo makes his second stop at the end of lap 28, rejoining in 19th on hards.
Hamilton pits at the end of lap 29, the Briton rejoining in fifth on hards.
Russell pits at the end of lap 31, the Briton rejoining in 5th on hards.
"We are considering Plan A," Ocon is told. "We are happy with tyre management at the moment." The Frenchman is currently 10th, 4s down on his Alpine teammate.
Russell posts a new fastest lap (15.477), as he maintains a 6s gap to his teammate.
Following a very close encounter with Bottas, Schumacher pits.
"We don't believe we can do Plan C," Leclerc is told.
Closing to within 0.493s of Perez, Hamilton posts a new fastest lap. He makes a move on Perez into Turn 1 but the Mexican isn't having it and forces the Mercedes wide.
Next time around Hamilton makes no mistake, sweeping by the Red Bull. However, he encounters Vettel who has just left the pits. The Mexican almost reclaims the position but Hamilton holds his nerve.
Hamilton is now third, 19s down on Verstappen. Red Bull now has to choose whether and when to pit the Dutchman.
As Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (15.116), Russell passes Perez to claim fourth.
Stroll pits at the end of lap 38.
Verstappen is asked his thoughts on tyre compounds. "It doesn't really feel spectacular," he replies.
"Blue flags," shouts Hamilton as he finds himself in traffic.
Perez pits at the end of lap 40 and switches to the hards, rejoining in 7th, just ahead of Alonso.
Vettel is under investigation for ignoring blue flags. This relates to the incident when he impeded Hamilton after leaving the pits.
"Hamilton is faster than expected," Leclerc is advised. Indeed, the Briton is just 5.4s behind... and closing.
In his pursuit of Norris, Perez posts a new fastest lap (14.930).
"In Plan C, we will be overtaken and finish P4," Leclerc is told.
Sainz pits at the end of lap 43, as do Albon and Tsunoda.
"Tyres not fitted," shouts Tsunoda as he grinds to a halt at Turn 5.
Sainz rejoins in 9th.
Despite having stopped on track, raising fears of a safety car, the Japanese gets going again.
Leclerc pits at the end of lap 45, promoting Hamilton to second, 14.5s down on Verstappen.
As Tsunoda pits, Schumacher and Vettel battle for 15th.
Back on track, Tsunoda insists that "something is wrong". "Stop, stop," he is told.
This is all very odd, because during his stop, rather than checking his loose wheel, attention was focussed on his seatbelts.
The VSC is deployed.
Norris is first to pit, then Alonso. Down the pitlane, the Red Bull crew run out... and moments later Verstappen heads into the pitlane. Hamilton also stops as does Russell.
Verstappen rejoins still leading on fresh hards, while the Mercedes pair are on fresh mediums.
"Let's go, guys, that's a good pit stop, thank you!" urges Hamilton.
So, after 50 laps, it's: Verstappen, Hamilton (+ 14s), Russell (+ 3.8s), Leclerc (+ 4.2s), Perez (+ 7.1s), Ocon (+ 15.4s), Sainz (+5.4s), Norris (+ 2s), Alonso (+ 2s) and Stroll (+ 1.8s).
The VSC is withdrawn at the end of lap 50.
"That VSC has stuffed us," says Hamilton, as Russell posts a new fastest lap (14.223).
As Vettel is handed a 5s time penalty for ignoring the blue flags, the stewards advise that they will investigate the Tsunoda pitlane incident after the race.
Alonso makes a bold move around the outside of Norris in Turn 1, but the McLaren driver is having none of it.
Another fastest lap from Russell (13.947), as he maintains a 2.4s gap to his teammate. Verstappen enjoys an 11s lead.
A 13.854 sees Hamilton go quickest.
Bottas grinds to a halt on the pit straight at the start of lap 55.
However, Sainz appeared to pass Ocon for 6th, under the waved yellows, right beside where Bottas had stopped. He is told to let Ocon back past, but will that satisfy the stewards.
At which point the safety car is deployed.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Zandvoort here.
Verstappen pits, the Dutchman switching to softs. However, Hamilton stays out, as does Russell, meaning Verstappen is third. Leclerc and Perez pit, as do Albon, Magnussen, Zhou and Ricciardo.
Next time around, as the entire field is guided through the pitlane, Russell asks to switch to softs, which drops him behind Verstappen, leaving Hamilton's rear undefended.
More problems for Sainz, who also stops for fresh rubber, and is released - extremely unsafely - into the path of Alonso.
All are now on softs bar Hamilton and Perez who are on mediums.
"It's going to be hard keeping that car behind me," says Hamilton of Verstappen. "Copy Lewis, but let's give it everything."
The safety car is withdrawn at the end of lap 60, Verstappen, courtesy of the tow out of the final corner, edges ahead on the straight and maintains the advantage into Turn 1. The crowd roars.
In no time at all, Verstappen is 1.8s clear of Hamilton who is now under pressure from Russell.
Further back, Sainz has got ahead of Perez following a titanic battle down the main straight.
Hamilton is clearly unhappy with his team, and his mood isn't helped when he is passed by his teammate.
"I can't believe you guys,, *** me, I can't tell you how ******* angry I am now" he says.
In the garage Toto is far from happy.
Leclerc leaves Hamilton for dead on the main straight, the seven-time champion basically a sitting target now.
Norris tries a move on Alonso, but the wild old fox knows every move in the book.
With 5 laps remaining, there is no guarantee that Hamilton will be able to hold off Sainz and Perez.
Sainz is given a 5s time penalty for an unsafe release, which will drop him to eleventh or twelfth even though he is fifth on the road.
Perez loses ground after running wide after a failed move on Sainz - a move that wasn't necessary when you consider the Spaniard's time penalty. Haven't they told him?
Alonso is all over Perez, with Norris in hot pursuit.
Verstappen takes the flag, ahead of Russell, Leclerc, Hamilton, Alonso, Norris, Sainz, Ocon and Stroll.
Gasly is eleventh, ahead of Albon, Schumacher, Vettel, Magnussen, Zhou, Ricciardo and Latifi.
In no time at all the air is filled with orange smoke... the local hero has won.
"We were a little unlucky with the VSC," says Leclerc, "I don't know if it would have changed anything but Max was too quick today.
"Lewis was struggling on a used set so we managed to overtake him, it wasn't easy but we made it stick. The gap is really big," he admits.
"Really special feeling to be racing in Zandvoort," says Russell. "As a team today we showed incredible pace, this gives us a lot of confidence moving forward.
"We are slowly getting closer to that top step, so let's keep pushing."
"Not a straightforward race," insists Verstappen, "we had to push the whole race.
"VSC, Safety Car, making the right calls, it worked out really well," he adds. "I had a good run on the restart, I had a bit more top speed to attack into Turn 1. We timed it really well out of the last corner, the draft was really strong."
As the three head for the podium, Toto Wolff tells a clearly frustrated Hamilton: "Let's discuss between us in the office". Who wouldn't want to be a fly on that wall tonight.
In response, Hamilton thanks the mechanics, pointedly omitting those on the pit-wall calling the shots.
That said, there are likely to be equally fascinating post-mortems at Ferrari (again) and AlphaTauri.
None of which takes away the fact that Max has further extended his lead today, and Leclerc's chances of the title have gone up in orange smoke.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Zandvoort here.