Lando Norris’ Formula 1 title hopes took a heavy hit at the Dutch Grand Prix as his McLaren broke down just seven laps from the finish, handing teammate Oscar Piastri a clear run to victory. The Australian controlled the race from the front, while Norris’ late retirement left him dejected on the side of the track.
The day had promised another McLaren duel. Norris shadowed Piastri closely for over 30 laps, looking for an opening after two safety car restarts. But his challenge ended in smoke when an oil leak forced him to pull over on Lap 65, slumping onto a sand dune as his rivals roared past.
For Piastri, it was a seventh win of the season and perhaps the most composed. He kept calm under pressure and extended his lead in the championship to 34 points, the biggest gap yet between the two McLaren drivers. “I felt in control of that one,” Piastri said. “Obviously very unfortunate for Lando, but very happy with all the work we’ve done to improve here.”
The drama at Zandvoort stretched beyond McLaren. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, the home favourite, had to settle for second after admitting he lacked the pace to match the McLarens. “We got a bit lucky with one retiring,” Verstappen said, pleased with the podium despite his frustration.
The fairytale belonged to Isack Hadjar. The French rookie secured his first ever podium, finishing third in the Racing Bulls. His previous best result was sixth at Monaco, but here he drove with composure to deliver a breakthrough. “It feels a bit unreal,” Hadjar admitted. “The car was on rails all weekend and I made no mistakes. This was always the target since I was a kid.”
Elsewhere, George Russell took fourth while Alex Albon stormed from 15th to fifth in a standout drive for Williams. Oliver Bearman also impressed, climbing from the pit lane to finish sixth.
The race was shaped by three safety cars. Lewis Hamilton caused the first when he spun out on Lap 23, his car destroyed after sliding into Turn 3. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was another casualty, crashing out after contact with Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Norris had looked ready to mount a final attack on Piastri after the second safety car reset the race, even getting close on Lap 60 with DRS. But fate had other ideas. His breakdown leaves him with more than just points to worry about, as a potential engine change could trigger a costly grid penalty later in the season.
The championship battle now rolls on to Monza, with McLaren firmly in control but Norris left searching for answers.
