Piastri wins Dutch GP as Norris suffers title blow

Oscar Piastri claimed a dramatic victory at the Dutch Grand Prix, but McLaren’s celebrations were bittersweet after Lando Norris retired late on with an oil leak that dealt a major blow to his championship challenge.

Piastri led from pole to flag and absorbed the pressure of three Safety Car restarts to secure his seventh win of the season, finishing ahead of home favourite Max Verstappen.

But the defining moment came with just eight laps remaining when Norris, running securely in second, slowed and parked at Turn 9.

The retirement leaves Norris 34 points behind his team-mate with nine rounds remaining in the 2025 season.

“It feels good, obviously,” said Piastri. “I controlled the race when I needed to. It was incredibly unfortunate for Lando at the end, but I felt like I was in control of that one. Very satisfied to come out on top.”

Hadjar makes history for Racing Bulls

Behind the front two, 20-year-old Isack Hadjar claimed a sensational maiden F1 podium for Racing Bulls.

Running solidly in fourth for much of the race, Hadjar inherited third after Norris’ exit and held his nerve to the flag.

He becomes the youngest Frenchman ever to stand on an F1 podium and the team’s first top-three finisher since Pierre Gasly in 2021.

Ferrari endure nightmare afternoon

Ferrari endured a disastrous race just a week before their home Grand Prix at Monza, Lewis Hamilton crashed out in damp conditions on Lap 17, losing control at the banked Turn 3 and suffering his first retirement since joining Ferrari.

Team-mate Charles Leclerc was later hit by Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli at the same corner, forcing both Ferraris out.

Antonelli eventually finished sixth on the road but was demoted by 15 seconds worth of penalties for colliding with Leclerc and speeding in the pit lane.

That promoted Ferrari reserve Oliver Bearman to a career-best sixth place, behind George Russell and Alex Albon.

Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso secured double points for Aston Martin, while Yuki Tsunoda and Esteban Ocon rounded out the top 10.

Carlos Sainz and Liam Lawson had both been on course for points until contact during a Safety Car restart left them with punctures; Sainz was also handed a 10-second penalty.

A title-defining moment?

The race had been set up for a McLaren duel; Piastri narrowly beat Norris to pole by 0.012s and kept the lead at the start, while Verstappen briefly split the pair with a bold Lap 1 overtake on Norris.

The Briton fought back on Lap 9, passing Verstappen and setting off in pursuit of his team-mate.

After Hamilton’s crash brought out the first Safety Car, both McLarens pitted for hards while Verstappen gambled on softs, but the Dutchman couldn’t make the move stick on the restart.

Piastri and Norris traded lap times but the Australian never let his rival within DRS range.

A second Safety Car followed Antonelli’s clash with Leclerc, but once again Piastri handled the pressure.

Then came the decisive twist: on Lap 65, Norris’ car leaked oil and ground to a halt. He sat dejected on the Zandvoort banking, helmet off, as Piastri inherited a decisive advantage in the title fight.

McLaren’s bittersweet day

Team principal Andrea Stella reflected on the highs and lows:

“I think today we experienced the two sides of motorsport. On one side, the joy and satisfaction of another victory for McLaren, a deserved win for Oscar. On the other, the disappointment for Lando’s retirement. It was certainly P1, P2 possible today. We had the joy and the pain at the same time. This is motor racing.”

With nine races remaining, the title picture has shifted decisively in Piastri’s favour – but with McLaren’s pace advantage, Norris still has a glimmer of hope if luck turns his way.