Dutch GP: Frustrating race for Williams Racing

Qualifying for the seventy two lap 2021 Dutch Grand Prix had seen the Williams Racing Team finish with 11th and 14th places on the grid with George Russell leading team-mate Nicholas Latifi. But in qualifying both cars had been involved in crashes and Nicholas's one was quite heavy and as a result he would be forced to take a new gearbox and well as a new front wing. The only issue was that the front wing was of a different type so this would see Nicholas forced to start from the pit lane. He would be joined by Perez for a similar reason. George would retain his 11th on the grid while on pole was Verstappen from Hamilton, Bottas, Gasly, Leclerc, Sainz, Giovinazzi, Ocon, Alonso and Ricciardo tenth.

As for tyres the Williams drivers would be using the medium tyre while the top ten were all of the soft tyre. Outside the top ten those on the medium were Norris, Kubica, and Mazepin. The rest of the field except Perez were on the soft. Perez would start on the hard tyre. The grid would complete the parade lap and would form up and the start would see Verstappen leading Hamilton and Bottas. George was 11th and Nicholas last. Gasly was now fourth followed by Leclerc and Sainz. George would complain about smoke coming from Ricciardo's car which was running in ninth.

Verstappen was able to pull out a 2.4s lead over Hamilton with five laps completed. On the soft tyre Schumacher would pit on lap six switching to the hard tyre but he also had a change of nose. George continued to run in 11th and Nicholas 19th. Having flat spotted his left front Perez would be forced to pit seeing Nicholas now 18th. Vettel would pit on lap twelve switching from the soft to the hard tyre. Nicholas would get past Mazepin to now be 16th going around the outside at Turn One. Verstappen was now 3.4s ahead of Hamilton. Perez would pass Nicholas for 16th. Hamilton would pit on lap twenty two returning in third ahead of Gasly. He had switched to the medium tyre.

Verstappen would respond also pitting returning in second also now on the medium. Hamilton was third followed by Gasly, Leclerc, Sainz, Alonso, Ocon, Ricciardo, and Giovinazzi tenth. George continued to run in 11th as Perez continued to move forward and was 14th. Gasly would pit on lap twenty six taking the medium tyre returning in seventh. Nicholas had also pitted switching to the hard tyre and dropping to 19th. Gasly would pass Alonso for sixth as we had Giovinazzi, Russel and Stroll all pit. Giovinazzi would switch to the medium while Russell and Stroll on to the hard. George would drop to 15th. Verstappen had closed right up to leader Bottas and looking to get past. And with DRS he would pass Bottas on the main straight.

Lap thirty three and Bottas and Ricciardo would both pit. Bottas now on the medium was third and Ricciardo 12th. Sainz would pit joined by Ocon and Tsunoda. The order was now Verstappen from Hamilton, Bottas, Leclerc, Gasly, Alonso, Sainz, Norris, Perez, and Ocon tenth. George and Nicholas were now 13th and 18th. Giovinazzi would pit for a second time dropping to 18th and changing to the hard as a result of a puncture. This would see George 12th and Nicholas 17th. Nicholas would pass Vettel for 16th as Vettel had an issue with a spin. Verstappen was now leading by 2.7s over Hamilton and Bottas. Gasly was again fourth followed by Leclerc, Sainz, Norris, Perez, Alonso and Ocon tenth. Hamilton would again pit changing to another set of mediums. But he would come out in the middle of backmarkers.

Verstappen would also come in changing to the hard tyre returning still in the lead over Hamilton by 2.9s. Norris had pitted dropping to 11th right behind Ricciardo. George would receive a five second penalty for speeding in the pit lane. Norris would pass Ricciardo for tenth. George was still running in 12th and Nicholas 15th. Perez would pit again dropping to 11th taking on the soft tyre. George would move into 11th. Tsunoda a would retire in his pit seeing Nicholas now 14th. But Nicholas would be passed by Vettel and Giovinazzi to now be 16th. Perez would pass Ricciardo for tenth and would close in onto Norris. He would quickly get past to now be ninth and Norris tenth. On lap seventy Bottas would pit changing to the soft tyre. He would retain his third place. Hamilton would also pit changing to the soft tyre looking to score the point for the fastest lap as he was able to retain second. George was also forced to pit taking his five second penalty. He would return in 15th with Nicholas 16th.

Verstappen would go onto to win the race and Hamilton second having secured the fastest lap. Bottas was third followed by Gasly, Leclerc, Alonso, Sainz, Perez, Ocon, and Norris tenth. For Williams at the last moment George would retire his car while Nicholas was 16th. A result that was not a surprise to be outside the points after the lack of pace over the practice sessions.