Jess
Oscar Piastri seized 25 crucial points from championship rival Lando Norris with his victory at the Dutch Grand Prix.
Piastri, who started on pole position after setting a new lap record at Zandvoort yesterday, edged out his teammate by just 0.012 seconds. He maintained his lead from the start by cutting across Norris at turn one.
Max Verstappen, equipped with soft tyres, capitalized on Norris being trapped behind Piastri and swooped around the outside to snatch P2. However, Norris reclaimed P2 several laps later and focused on closing the gap to Piastri.
Light rain created a slippery track, causing Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton to slide into the barriers at turn 3. The deployment of a safety car prompted the front runners to pit, setting them up for a one-stop race.
The safety car erased the 3-second gap between Piastri and Norris, giving Norris his first opportunity to challenge for P1. The gap fluctuated between 1 and 2 seconds, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.
Meanwhile, Sainz received a ten-second penalty for colliding with Liam Lawson, expressing his frustration over the FIA’s decision during a radio message.
After the race, Sainz labeled the penalty “unacceptable” and argued that it fell short of Formula 1’s stewarding standards.
Overtaking proved challenging, and the one-stop strategy weighed heavily on everyone’s minds.
However, two late safety cars shifted the race.
Leclerc managed to overtake George Russell, showcasing his boldness, but the hard racing resulted in Russell sustaining floor damage.
Leclerc and Antonelli opted for a pit stop to gain a tyre advantage over Isack Hadjar, whom they had struggled to pass all race.
This decision led to a fierce battle for track position, with Antonelli attacking Leclerc on warmer tyres. The two made contact, crashing Leclerc out of the race.
More than 20 laps into their second set of tyres, many drivers in the top ten, including both McLarens, pitted behind the safety car. Backmarkers who had committed to a two-stop strategy to climbed the order.
The top four drivers returned to their previous running order: just 1 second separated both McLarens, while Max Verstappen trailed them by 5 seconds, accompanied by rookie Hadjar.
But a final twist awaited.
After years of reliable performance, Lando Norris reported smelling smoke from his cockpit and soon lost power, forcing him to retire from the race.
This marked McLaren’s first mechanical DNF since the Bahrain 2023 race, where Piastri faced a steering issue.
Piastri executed his final restart with the same class and composure as before, having learned from his mistakes at Silverstone. He crossed the finish line error-free, equaling his mentor Mark Webber with a total of 9 career wins.
Piastri now holds a 34-point lead over Norris in the championship, but Norris remains determined. After the race, he expressed his commitment to winning every remaining race.
Isack Hadjar celebrated his first podium in F1 just 15 races into his career, with jubilant celebrations at Racing Bulls. He demonstrated impressive pace, tyre management, and the mindset of a seasoned driver.
Ollie Bearman also shone as a standout rookie, starting from the pit lane due to a parc fermé infringement and finishing P5 after Antonelli’s penalty was applied.
Both Aston Martins finished in the top ten, and Alex Albon’s Williams secured P5, just behind George Russell.
With nine races left, including three sprints, the drivers’ championship remains wide open. However, following Ferrari’s double DNF, McLaren looks poised to clinch the constructors’ title by October if they maintain their winning streak.
