PIASTRI DOMINATES AT ZANDVOORT WHILE NORRIS RETIRES
Oscar Piastri took victory in a dramatic Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, as McLaren teammate Lando Norris retired in the closing laps with a mechanical issue that could have a major impact on the title fight.
Piastri started from pole position and made a clean getaway, while Norris briefly lost second to Max Verstappen before quickly reclaiming the spot. The two McLarens settled into a comfortable 1–2 at the front, with Verstappen chasing in third.
The race’s first major twist came on Lap 23 when Lewis Hamilton crashed into the barriers, bringing out the Safety Car. Almost the entire field pitted, with McLaren double-stacking their cars. Piastri retained the lead, while Norris, delayed slightly, held onto second. Verstappen stayed third on a different tyre choice, with rookie Isack Hadjar in an impressive fourth.
When racing resumed, the McLarens pulled away again, but there was drama further back as Carlos Sainz clashed with Liam Lawson, earning a penalty. George Russell and Charles Leclerc also battled fiercely, with the Ferrari eventually getting past before later retiring in another collision—this time with Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli. That accident brought out a second Safety Car and ended Leclerc’s afternoon. Antonelli, who also picked up penalties, fell out of contention.
Through it all, Piastri stayed calm up front while Norris kept the pressure on. By the final laps, it looked as if McLaren would secure a dominant 1–2. But heartbreak struck when smoke began to pour from Norris’s car. He pulled off track, visibly frustrated, while Piastri inherited a clear run to the finish.
A third Safety Car briefly paused the action, but Piastri handled the restart perfectly and crossed the line to claim his seventh win of the season. The Australian now leads the championship by 34 points over Norris.
Verstappen finished second at home, while Racing Bulls’ Hadjar secured a superb maiden Formula 1 podium in third after holding off Russell. The Mercedes driver settled for fourth, followed by Alex Albon, who produced one of the drives of the day to climb from 15th to fifth.
Behind them, Haas enjoyed a strong afternoon, with Ollie Bearman charging from a pit-lane start to sixth and Esteban Ocon taking the final point in tenth. Aston Martin achieved a double points finish with Lance Stroll seventh and Fernando Alonso eighth, while Yuki Tsunoda kept Red Bull in the points with ninth.
Just outside the top 10 came Franco Colapinto in 11th and Liam Lawson in 12th, both unlucky to miss out. Sainz was left only 13th after his penalty, ahead of Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto in the Kick Saubers. Antonelli ended a tough day in 16th with multiple penalties, and Pierre Gasly rounded out the finishers in 17th.
The retirements of Norris, Leclerc, and Hamilton proved decisive, especially for Ferrari, who scored no points. The result has also tightened the Constructors’ Championship fight, with Mercedes now closing to within 12 points of Ferrari for second place.
For Piastri, however, the day was all about another important win and a stronger hold on the title as Formula 1 heads deeper into the second half of the season, leading the standings 34 points ahead of his team mate.
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