ZANDVOORT, Netherlands (Reuters) - Runaway Formula One leader Max Verstappen celebrated a record-equaling ninth successive victory after winning a rain-hit and red-flagged Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday for the third year in a row.
The Red Bull driver’s home triumph from pole position at a soggy Zandvoort equaled now-retired four-times world champion Sebastian Vettel’s 2013 run of success with the same team.
It was Red Bull’s 14th consecutive triumph and 13th of the season, with the Italian Grand Prix at Monza following next weekend.
Rain brought chaos at the end of lap one, with a further dry period followed by a downpour that swept in from the North Sea to halt proceedings for 40 minutes on the 65th of 72 laps with cars skidding off.
Fernando Alonso put Aston Martin back on the podium with second place and a bonus point for fastest lap after the eventual rolling re-start behind the safety car led to a thrilling final chase at the seaside circuit.
Pierre Gasly was third, his first podium finish since he joined Renault-owned Alpine, as Red Bull’s Sergio Perez collected a five-second post-race penalty for speeding in the pit lane and dropped to fourth.
Verstappen now leads Perez, his closest rival, by a mighty 138 points with nine races remaining.
Red Bull lead Mercedes by 285 points with Aston Martin 40 points further back and 14 ahead of Ferrari.