© Getty ImagesRace Changing Moments - Dutch Grand Prix 2023It was a rollercoaster of a race in The Netherlands this weekend and we don’t know about you but we could barely keep up with all of the action, so here’s a recap of some of the key moments.
Itwasaracelikenootherthisseason,theweatherplayeditspartthroughouttheweekend,butcoolheadsandafantasticstrategysawtheBullswithastunningresult.Hereareallthehighsandlowsfromtheraceweekend…
QualifyingRedFlagPlaysIntoMax’sHands
With only four minutes remaining in Q3 on Saturday, Max was sitting in P3 when the red flags were then shown due to Charles Leclerc crashing, so with time running out there was plenty to do. When the green lights were shown again, Checo was first out on track, but with the Mexican and number of rivals targeting two build laps, Max went out and set a blistering benchmark of 1:10.567 which nobody else could get close to, and Max took his eighth pole position of 2023 by 0.537seconds.
Pushing To The Limits© Getty Images
FromFirstInThePitsToFirstonTrack
As the lights went out on Sunday, not even one rotation of the track was completed before the rain started. Checo who began the race in P7 was the first to dive in the pits for the green-walled intermediate tyres. Several drivers tried to stay on the slicks, but it turned out to be a bad decision. Checo returned to the track in P14 but started carving his way through the pack and by the end of lap two, not only had he taken the lead in the race, he’d built up an 11 second gap to P2.
Checo Navigating The Wet© Getty Images
A10.9secondStopCouldn’tSlowCheco
On lap 61 when the rain started to fall, Checo made a late choice to dive into the pits for inters – it worked on the first lap – the pit crew weren’t ready, so Checo found himself stationary for 10.9 seconds. He came out in P4 and managed to get himself back to P2, but as the rain worsened, he found himself in P3, but was then hit with a five-second penalty for speeding in the pitlane and eventually dropped to P4. He will be gutted to not have stood on the podium, but he still gained three positions in a tight and energy-draining race.
Adjusting To The Weather© Valdmir Rys
ABusyPitCrewIsaQuickPitCrew
With five pitstops apiece the pit crew were busy throughout the 72-lap race. However, apart from the one stop above, the Team kept banging out stops that were all under three seconds.
The quickest being just 2.2seconds when Max pitted for his second set of soft tyres on lap 49.
When It Rains...It's Time To Pit© Getty Images
Once again Max drove a perfect race securing his third win in a row at his home circuit. The Dutch Lion had to deal with changing weather meaning he completed a total of five pit stops, as well as a five-lap sprint to the finish after the race was red flagged due to Zhou Guanyu crashing and undrivable weather. Although Max was able to bring it home, he had to compete with a hungry Fernando Alonso on his rear end who was desperate for his first win of the season. At the end of the race it was obvious what the result meant to Max, in front of an ecstatic Orange Army, but he wouldn’t be drawn on the question of if he could make it 10 in a row next week.
Oh We Do Love Racing In Holland© Getty Images
As well as Max collecting his third home race win in three seasons, this win also saw him level the record of most consecutive race wins, set by Sebastian Vettel back in his Red Bull days. Max now stands alongside the legends of the sport with nine wins in a row, and what better place to reach that milestone than in front of his home crowd.
Nine In A Row© Getty Images
