Verstappen wins Dutch Grand Prix with ninth straight victory

Max Verstappen has won a chaotic, deluge-hit and red-flagged Dutch Grand Prix to match Sebastian Vettel's record run of nine consecutive victories.

"Fantastic job, the weather didn't make it easy for us," said Red Bull's double world champion on Sunday.

Fernando Alonso for Aston Martin took second with Alpine's Pierre Gasly completing the podium at Zandvoort.

The home favourite's 11th success from the 13 races staged this season extended Verstappen's lead to 138 points in the championship over teammate Sergio Perez, who finished fourth.

"I'm incredibly proud, I had goosebumps with the national anthem playing at the start, an incredible atmosphere," said Verstappen, to roars of delight from his orange army of fans.

Red Bull dominance

"He's done it, matched the nine victories of Sebastian, I mean what a performance today," said Red Bull boss Christian Horner.

For Red Bull this latest display of dominance in trying circumstances extended their record unbeaten run to 14 stretching back to Abu Dhabi last year.

In front of the massed ranks of his fans, Verstappen maintained his iron hold over Zandvoort since the circuit carved into the dunes by the North Sea rejoined the F1 calendar, this being his third straight win from pole.

A carnival atmosphere rocking to Max's beat greeted the grid at the start, US actor Steve Carroll among the sell out 305,000 crowd over the weekend.

Unlike Red Bull's metronomic form, the weather was proving unpredictable, a thunderstorm rolling off the North Sea towards the track.

Play-by-play

After the national anthem splendidly performed by Andre Rieu and his orchestra, it was lights out at the seaside.

Verstappen got off to a flyer, holding off his front lane companion Lando Norris of McLaren to turn one as the rain arrived.

A fleet of cars came in to switch from dry to soft tyres, leaving Perez leading from Zhou Guanyu's Alfa Romeo.

In a personal landmark Liam Lawson, the New Zealand rookie called in to replace injured Daniel Ricciardo by AlphaTauri, clocked an early fastest lap in his first ever grand prix.

But he was then slapped with a 10 second time penalty for impeding in the pitlane.

Verstappen was in fourth, 14sec off his Mexican teammate, after a frantic opening four laps. He charged past Gasly and Zhou to go in hot pursuit of Perez, nine seconds up the road.

On a drying track, Verstappen pitted, with Perez doing likewise to give back the lead to the local hero on lap 13.

Logan Sargeant then embedded his Williams in the barrier at turn eight, triggering a safety car on lap 16.

The safety car came in on lap 22, Verstappen bunching the field up before putting his foot to the floor as Perez was forced to fend off Alonso.

Perez trailed by over five seconds at the midway stage of the 72-lap contest as Verstappen reeled off a series of quickest laps up front.

Charles Leclerc was forced to retire his damaged Ferrari 20 laps from the end.