Lando Norris was visibly distraught as he slumped on a sand dune beside the Zandvoort circuit. His McLaren engine had suddenly failed while he was in pursuit of teammate and Formula 1 rival Oscar Piastri.
This setback could potentially derail Norris’s championship aspirations. Despite there being nine rounds remaining, the title battle between Norris and Piastri has been fiercely contested all season. The non-finish for Norris allowed Piastri to establish his largest points lead of the year.
The mishap for Norris also enabled Max Verstappen to secure second place in front of his home crowd. Meanwhile, Isack Hadjar, a newcomer to Formula 1, made a popular appearance on the podium after a strong performance.
Conversely, it was a dismal day for other top teams. George Russell finished fourth, but Kimi Antonelli incurred significant penalties, squandering his chances of scoring points. Ferrari also had a disappointing outing as Lewis Hamilton crashed out independently before Charles Leclerc was taken out by a Mercedes driver.
At the beginning of the race, Norris had his sights set on Piastri, but Verstappen posed a constant threat from behind. Verstappen’s aggressive use of soft tires led to a thrilling battle with Norris, with the Dutchman eventually overtaking the McLaren driver.
As rain began to fall, Verstappen’s tire wear became apparent, allowing Norris to close in again. Piastri, meanwhile, built a comfortable lead, increasing the urgency for Norris to pass Verstappen.
Norris swiftly overtook Verstappen on lap nine, utilizing his superior grip to secure the position. As the rain intensified, fans donned ponchos, but the conditions did not warrant a switch to wet tires. Verstappen fell further behind Norris, who was trailing Piastri.
Further down the field, Hadjar maintained his fourth-place position, fending off Leclerc’s Ferrari. Hamilton’s race ended prematurely after a collision, leaving him with no points.
Ferrari’s woes continued as Leclerc was later involved in an incident with Antonelli. Leclerc could face penalties in the upcoming Italian Grand Prix for his actions during the race.
The most dramatic moment occurred when Norris, closing in on Piastri, reported a strange smell in his car before smoke emerged, signaling an oil leak. Norris was forced to retire, handing Piastri maximum points and leaving his own title hopes in jeopardy.