DUTCH GRAND PRIX - STILL MAX AND RED BULL ON TOP, AS PEACE BROKE OUT BETWEEN THE TWO TEAMS.

 

A Very Big Congratulations to Max Verstappen and Team Red Bull, for winning the 2021 Formula 1 Dutch Gran Prix, at the Zandvoort Circuit on Sunday 5th September 2021. And to Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas and Team Mercedes, for making it to P.2 and P.3.

Having prepared the ground for the easing of tensions between Teams Mercedes and Red Bull during the practice and Qualifying sessions of much anticipated Dutch Grand Prix.  

It was truly satisfying and enjoyable to observed Max and Lewis and Bottas fist-bumping, hand shaking, hugging and champagning one another during the post race rituals. 

Yes, it is likely that this display of comradeship and sportsmanship is still only another stage of a still on-going process, rather than the completion of the process. 

But nevertheless, it is a most welcoming sight to observe arch-rivals Max and Ham hugging each other, even if, in doing so, they stand a better chance of  concealing the knives of rivalry which drives both of them on the racing circuits.

Max took hold of the advantage which he obtained from taking Pole with the proverbial narrowest of margins during Qualifying.  

And, synchronised with the deployment of the optimum race strategy by Team Red Bull, drove the faultless race to convert it into a race win. 

Hamilton and Bottas did well to keep the 'Flying Dutchman' in their sights, for the most part. 

However, with both Team Mercedes' race strategies and their last penultimate tyre change leaving failing to boost them with the sustained pace and power they needed to challenge Max, their attempt to do so soon fizzled out. 

Leaving Hamilton unable to contain his frustration, and to seemingly too frequently berating his team for having gotten it so so wrong. 

Though at that stage their is little or nothing the team could do to correct the problem. 

And so it became glowing obvious that it would have been better for the Great Racer to just hold his peace, stop upsetting himself and race as best he could, with the equipment and strategy he had been given, and/or taken together with the team. 

Yes, it was one of those situations where you, the observer or listener felt like saying, 'Lewis, this is Toto and Bona. 

Please stop complaining and race. Do the best you can with what you; you can do it. You can berate me, later, after the race, if you still feel it necessary to do so. Ok, Lewis?

Mercedes did not get Pole in Qualifying or a race win, but there is no denying the fact that they have reigned in Team Red Bull and Max, sufficiently to make the win happen during the next Grand Prix. 

That is significant, in a championship battle which is likely to be be decided by small margins, and won increment by increment.

A big thank you to all the fearless racers and their industrious teams, for your sterling work and all the risks you have taken, to provide us Formula 1 fans and spectators with an exciting and enjoyable race!!