Lando Norris has won the Dutch Formula 1 Grand Prix, effortlessly cruising to victory in a race that saw his McLaren and that of Australian Oscar Piastri outpace the field.
Piastri finished fourth after briefly leading the race before pitting and relinquishing control to Norris.
The McLaren of Oscar Piastri during the Dutch Grand Prix at the Zandvoort racetrack in the Netherlands on Sunday.Credit: AP
There was little defending champion and local hope Max Verstappen, who finished second for Red Bull, could do to counter the speed of the McLarens.
Only a stubborn drive from Scuderia Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc – who frustrated Piastri lap after lap and stopped the Australian moving into third place – prevented Verstappen from being sandwiched between the two faster McLarens.
Norris finished 22.8 seconds ahead of championship leader Verstappen, ending the triple world champion’s unbeaten home record.
It was the first time since the race returned to the calendar in 2021 that Verstappen had not triumphed at Zandvoort. The loss also extended his losing streak this season to five races.
Verstappen’s lead over Norris in the drivers’ championship was cut to 70 points after 15 of a record 24 rounds, with McLaren also cutting Red Bull’s increasingly vulnerable advantage in the constructors’ championship to 30.
“It feels amazing. I wouldn’t say a perfect race because of lap one again, but it was still beautiful,” said Norris, who took his first win in Miami in May.
“The pace was strong, the car was unbelievable. I could push and get past Max. It was a straightforward race. Tough but enjoyable.”
Source Agencies
