Verstappen nearing F1 repeat title

Max Verstappen stood on his car to milk the applause as the 100,000strong Orange Army engulfed their national hero in a sea of their favorite color after he won the Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday. A second straight win at the Zandvoort track by the seaside; a fourth straight win for the first time in his career and already a 30th overall; a 109-point lead with only seven races left. That orange wave is carrying him to a second straight world title. “It’s nice to see all the crowd and the craziness,” Verstappen said. “This was a very special weekend for me.” It seems a question now of when, rather than if, the Red Bull driver seals the title and if he can beat Sebastian Vettel’s F1 record of 13 wins in a season from 2013 — also achieved with Red Bull. Verstappen has won 10 races this season so far. Verstappen made quick work of a safety car restart this time to overtake seven-time series champ Lewis Hamilton. His 10th win matched his tally from last year as his challengers — Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and teammate Sergio Perez in joint second — fell further back in the standings.