F1 | Oscar Piastri dominates Dutch GP, Lando Norris retires, first career podium for Isack Hadjar. Oscar Piastri claimed victory at the 2025 Dutch GP in Zandvoort.

Piastri triumphs in Zandvoort as Norris retires and Hadjar celebrates maiden podium

Oscar Piastri delivered a flawless performance at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort, leading from start to finish in his McLaren. His teammate Lando Norris was forced to retire just seven laps from the chequered flag due to a technical failure, a blow that drops him to 34 points behind in the championship battle. Max Verstappen seized the opportunity to take second place, while the standout of the day was Isack Hadjar, who celebrated his first Formula 1 podium with Racing Bulls. Both Ferrari drivers failed to finish after an incident in which Kimi Antonelli collided with Charles Leclerc.

Oscar Piastri unstoppable from pole position

A dramatic plume of smoke with only seven laps to go signalled the end of the race for Norris, his Mercedes power unit giving way. Until that moment, the British driver had pushed with everything he had to unsettle his McLaren teammate, but Oscar Piastri was simply untouchable. Starting from pole position, the Australian did not make a single mistake and managed three safety car restarts to perfection. Twice he held off Norris, and once he resisted Verstappen, who even had the advantage of a fresh set of soft tyres. Each time, Piastri built a gap of more than a second within just one lap, keeping himself safely out of DRS range.

Piastri strengthens his lead in the championship

The Dutch round could prove to be a turning point in the Formula 1 World Championship. Piastri’s victory at Zandvoort was his seventh win of the season and the ninth of his career. The young driver from Melbourne now heads to Monza with renewed confidence, as his championship lead has extended from nine points to thirty-four. Even in the event of a non-finish, the protégé of Mark Webber would still retain the top spot in the standings.

McLaren shows strength despite Norris heartbreak

Piastri had already worn down Norris in qualifying, and in the race he built a commanding and controlled victory. Once again, McLaren demonstrated its superiority, but the team of Andrea Stella suffered a costly setback when an oil leak struck the Mercedes power unit. The technical failure was particularly damaging on the Zandvoort circuit, where the steeply banked corners make lubricant cavitation a critical issue.

Behind Piastri: Verstappen second, Hadjar the hero of the day

On the podium alongside Piastri were Max Verstappen with Red Bull and Isack Hadjar with Racing Bulls. The present and, perhaps, the future of the Milton Keynes outfit. Verstappen, a four-time world champion, maximised his result after slipping behind Norris at the start but quickly reclaimed the position thanks to the MCL39’s superior pace. His second place, combined with Yuki Tsunoda’s ninth place, moved Red Bull forward in the Constructors’ Championship standings.

However, the true star of the day was Hadjar. At just his fifteenth Formula 1 race, the French driver claimed his first career podium. It was a fully deserved achievement. He impressed in qualifying and confirmed his pace during the race, keeping Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari behind him without succumbing to pressure. Confident in the competitiveness of his VCARB 02 – a car that Verstappen might arguably prefer over the RB21 – Hadjar showed maturity beyond his years.

Hadjar’s future shines brighter with Red Bull promotion

This podium result strengthens Hadjar’s credentials for a promotion to the senior Red Bull team in 2026. His pace throughout the race was consistent and, at times, close to that of Verstappen. Racing Bulls now sit seventh in the Constructors’ Championship, just two points behind Aston Martin, having already overtaken Sauber, who left Zandvoort without scoring.

Ferrari disaster after Antonelli collision with Leclerc

Mercedes missed out on the podium with George Russell, while Kimi Antonelli squandered a potential points finish with an overly aggressive move. On lap 52, the young Italian tried a daring manoeuvre on Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari at Turn 3, having just fitted warm soft tyres from his latest pit stop. The W16 understeered and clattered into the Ferrari, which was perfectly on the racing line. The stewards rightly handed Antonelli a 10-second penalty, plus an additional 5 seconds for exceeding the pit lane speed limit. What could have been a positive race turned into a disaster for the young driver from Bologna, who now faces the task of bouncing back from this difficult phase.