Dutch Grand Prix – F1 LIVE: Max Verstappen WINS in front of 105,000 adoring fans in his home race

Max Verstappen delivered home victory at the Dutch Grand Prix to extend his world championship lead – as Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes imploded.

Hamilton fumed: ‘I can’t believe you f****** f***** me. I can’t tell you how ****** I am.’

That was after his team left him out on medium tyres 15 laps from the end when all around him put on the quicker softs during a safety car phase brought about by Valtteri Bottas’ retirement on the straight.

It meant he went from first to fourth in the closing dozen laps of the 72-lap race. It was embarrassing all round for the Silver Arrows. Mercedes boffins were to blame, but so was Hamilton.

He could have asked for the mediums, but apparently didn’t. Verstappen immediately sliced through Hamilton on the restart.

His team-mate George Russell, who did ask for softs, finished second, screaming past Hamilton to prompt the expletive-laden diatribe. That was lap 64. 

Charles Leclerc also roared past Hamilton to take third place for Ferrari. That was lap 65.

It was cruel on Mercedes in many ways, for they had pace and a chance of at least second and third places, and possibly the win itself – though they have nobody else to blame but themselves.

When will they ever learn? Was Abu Dhabi last year, when they left Hamilton a sitting duck for Verstappen’s new rubber to exploit, not the wake-up call they could hardly sleep through?

For Verstappen victory gives him a lead of 109 over Leclerc with seven races remaining and 191 points left. The champion was the star man – winning from pole and keeping his nerve. His margin of victory over Russell was four seconds.

Hamilton was 11 seconds adrift as the inquests began.

More to follow. 

Follow Sportsmail’s live blog as the Formula One campaign continues at the Dutch Grand Prix.