DRIVERS
1 – Max VERSTAPPEN (Red Bull Racing)
2 – Fernando ALONSO (Aston Martin)
3 – Pierre GASLY (Alpine)
TRACK INTERVIEWS (Conducted by Giedo van der Garde)
Q: Pierre Gasly, P3. It must feel satisfying, right? What a result for you and the team, the first podium for you with Alpine.
Pierre GASLY: I just want to say, let’s go! Yes! I’m feeling incredibly happy. What a race. Coming back from the summer break hasn’t been easy, but we’ve been working hard to improve race by race. It was good to have some time off and come back strong. We had a third place in Spa in the Sprint, which wasn’t a typical podium, but I’m extremely pleased for the team to achieve P3 today.
Q: When you heard Pérez had a five-second penalty, were you pushing hard in the last few laps?
PG: Yeah, I was pretty upset when I received a five-second penalty earlier in the race, so when I heard Pérez had one too, I was determined to push as hard as I could to stay within those five seconds. It was a long and challenging race from start to finish, but the team executed the strategy perfectly.
Q: Perfect. Enjoy it, man. Fernando, P2. Why is it that you always perform so well in tricky conditions, like in the rain? It seems to be your thing.
Fernando ALONSO: Yeah, it was an intense race. We were very fast in the wet conditions at the beginning. Maybe we pitted one lap too late, but so did the leaders. The car was fantastic today – competitive and easy to drive. In these conditions, you need a car you can trust, and I had that today. I really enjoyed it, thanks to all the fans. The energy here in Zandvoort is unique. Two years ago, when this race returned, I never thought I would experience the Zandvoort podium, but today it’s very special to share it with Max and Pierre.
Q: That’s great to hear. Was it difficult for you to stay focused with all the party atmosphere and the red flag delay? It must have been challenging to get back in the zone.
FA: Yeah, it’s one of those races that’s hard to stay concentrated for such a long time. But with all the fans and the incredible energy here, you always feel focused. I’m happy for Max and congratulations to everyone. I did consider making a move on the last restart, but I decided to stay calm and secure second place.
Q: Enjoy, man. Max Verstappen, winner of the Heineken Dutch Grand Prix for the third time in a row. This must be an amazing feeling.
Max VERSTAPPEN: It’s incredible. Even with the challenging weather conditions, the fans were still full of energy, making it an incredible atmosphere. I already had goosebumps when they played the national anthem before the start. I’m immensely proud.
Q: You’ve also equaled Sebastian Vettel’s record of nine wins in a row. That’s truly remarkable. Are you aiming for the tenth win next week?
MV: I’ll think about that next week. For now, I want to enjoy this weekend. Winning is always tough, so I’m very happy to have won here.
PRESS CONFERENCE
Q: Max, what an extraordinary race. So much action and tension. How satisfying was it to secure the win?
MV: It’s fantastic. Look at this [shows bags of sweets]. This is the highlight of my day. The race was incredibly hectic, especially with the rain making it difficult to make the right calls. We decided to stay out for one more lap, which turned out to be the wrong call, but it made the race more exciting. I had to pass a few cars and close the gap up front. Once we switched to slick tires, the car felt great, and it was enjoyable to drive. But then the rain came again, and we had to switch to intermediates. The conditions became dangerous, so the red flag was the right decision, even though I was initially disappointed.
Q: The car seemed competitive in all conditions. How do you feel about that?
MV: Yes, the car performed well on intermediates and soft tires.
Q: What were the most stressful moments in the race for you? And how concerned were you when Fernando was challenging you at the end?
MV: The first laps on slick tires were stressful. You don’t want to go off the track immediately, and with the rain, it wasn’t easy to judge the grip. The final restart, with Fernando pushing behind me, was also tense. But once I got the temperature in my tires, everything balanced out.
Q: You’ve equalled Sebastian Vettel’s record of nine consecutive wins, and the team’s unbeaten run this season continues. What are your thoughts on that?
MV: Winning nine races in a row was never something I thought about. I’m extremely happy with that. But overall, I’m just thrilled to win in front of my home crowd.
Q: Well done, Max. Thank you. There may be more questions later. Fernando, now it’s your turn. What a race, with your seventh podium of the season. You showed incredible pace in all conditions. How do you feel about that?
FA: Yes, the car was working really well today. I felt confident driving it, and I had a lot of trust in its performance. When it comes to these tricky conditions, having that level of trust is crucial. The car was fast whether it was dry or wet.
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