Zandvoort (Netherlands) (AFP)

Pole, victory and here he is again at the helm of the championship: the Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull) did what his home crowd expected of him for the return of the Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday.

In front of 70,000 spectators won over to his cause and a whole country behind his screens, "the expectations were really very high and it was not so easy", assured the national hero, before brandishing a trophy which he considers "ugly" but which is worth despite everything more than another.

“It turned out to be a great day,” continued the 23-year-old.

"I am happy to win here and to take the reins of the championship back," said Verstappen, who is now three points ahead of Lewis Hamilton, second at the finish line.

Ironically, on the list of "his" GP, Verstappen, who started on pole ahead of the Briton and his Finnish teammate Valtteri Bottas, succeeds ... Hamilton's mentor at Mercedes, the Austrian Niki Lauda, ​​winner in the last edition in 1985.

"Max had a great race. I gave absolutely everything I could, I was all the way around, but they were just too fast for us," admitted the seven-time world champion.

Not resentful (or end communicating?), The latter took the time to greet one of the most festive audiences of the season - which is particularly appreciable after long months of empty stands because of the Covid-19 - and a track which "is now one of (his) favorites".

- "Everything should have been perfect" -

It must be said that, on a fast lap, the inclined bends and undulations of the Zandvoort circuit, drawn by the sea between the sand dunes, offer a breathtaking spectacle.

On the other hand, this was less the case during the GP, as expected, for lack of possibilities to overtake.

And without an accident, unlike free practice and qualifying, nothing came to restart the race.

Hamilton and Mercedes therefore tried to take the advantage by stopping to change tires before the Dutchman, but that was not enough.

"Everything would have had to be perfect to have even a chance to overtake them thanks to our strategy and unfortunately, neither the pace, nor the strategy, nor the traffic were," said the Briton.

Third place in the 13th round out of 22 scheduled for this season, run under a welcome sun after the torrential rains at Spa-Francorchamps last week, goes to the Finnish Bottas.

As the paddock awaits confirmation of his replacement next year by British hopeful George Russell, Hamilton's teammate - so often relegated to the role of N.2 - has tried to rebel ?

- "Lewis needed it more than me" -

For a few moments at the very end of the race, he snatched the best lap from the Briton, which could prove crucial if the title fight with Verstappen remains so close to the end.

"I did not try to take it," said Bottas, whose transfer to Alfa Romeo in 2022 could be announced in the coming days, preceding that of Russell.

"I was asked to slow down, I did it and Lewis finally got the fastest lap. We're here to bring in points for the team and he needed them more than I did."

Frenchman Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri) is fourth and Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) fifth.

The Spaniards Fernando Alonso (Alpine) and Carlos Sainz Jr (Ferrari), the Mexican Sergio Pérez (Red Bull), who started from the pit lane, the French Esteban Ocon (Alpine) and the Briton Lando Norris (McLaren) complete the Top 10 .

Note, also, the presence of the Pole Robert Kubica (15th) in the seat usually occupied at Alfa Romeo by the Finnish Kimi Räikkönen, tested positive for Covid-19.

The season continues with a third race in two weeks next weekend in Monza, Italy, on Ferrari land.

"Usually it's not the best circuit for us but our results are better everywhere this season," said Verstappen.

As since early 2021, Mercedes had better watch out.

© 2021 AFP