Oscar Piastri strengthened his grip on the Formula 1 drivers’ title race with a flawless victory at the Dutch Grand Prix, while teammate and closest rival Lando Norris suffered a devastating retirement just seven laps from the finish.
Piastri led confidently from pole to flag at Zandvoort, handling light rain and three safety-car restarts with trademark composure. The 24-year-old Australian’s win now gives him a 34-point advantage in the championship, a significant setback for Norris, who had started the weekend just nine points adrift.
Norris’s title hopes took a crushing blow when his McLaren suffered an oil leak while running second, forcing him to pull over and abandon the race in the dunes. Visibly dejected but composed afterward, Norris admitted: “Of course it’s frustrating. It hurts a bit for sure in a championship point of view. It’s a lot of points to lose so quickly and so easily. But it wasn’t my fault, so there’s nothing I can really do.”
Lewis Hamilton also endured heartbreak in his debut Ferrari season. After a promising weekend, the seven-time champion crashed out on lap 21, losing control on a damp section of track and colliding with the barriers. Despite the setback, Hamilton remained upbeat, describing his overall progress as “a step forward” as Ferrari look ahead to Monza.
Max Verstappen finished second for Red Bull, while rookie Isack Hadjar secured his first-ever podium with a superb third-place drive for Racing Bulls. George Russell came fourth for Mercedes, followed by Alex Albon in fifth for Williams.
For Piastri, the Zandvoort win marks a pivotal moment in the title fight. For Norris, it was a brutal reminder of Formula 1’s unforgiving nature, with his championship challenge now under real pressure heading into Monza.
