Oscar Piastri won the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix, while his McLaren teammate and title rival, Lando Norris, suffered an engine blow-up, which means a DNF on the day and a big blow to his title aspirations.
Piastri's ninth career victory, this one at Zandvoort, means he also boosts his 2025 Formula 1 World Championship standings by 25 points to 34 after today's 15th round. Max Verstappen harried the McLarens throughout the afternoon, but never had the firepower to attack despite three Safety Car periods.
Starting from pole, Piastri was never headed and with the McLaren as sweet as can be, planted around the twists and hills of Zandvoort, he kept Norris at bay until the latter had to park it. In fairness, an attack was probably going to come at some point, but the Merc-PU going poof denied that, and stuck a knife in Lando's title aspirations.
Piastri controlled the race from pole, surviving three Safety Car interruptions and constant pressure from Norris, who at times closed to within DRS range. The Australian kept his advantage through the restarts and managed his tyres as conditions remained dry despite the threat of rain. With Norris stopping on lap 65 due to a suspected oil failure, Piastri’s path to victory was clear.
Piastri: It was incredibly unfortunate for Lando at the end
In parc ferme after the race, the Australian said after his seventh victory of the season: “It feels good, obviously. I controlled the race when I needed to, and obviously, it was incredibly unfortunate for Lando at the end. But I felt like I was in control of that one and just used the pace when I needed to.
"That was a bit of a different race to 12 months ago, so very happy with all the work we’ve done to try to improve around here, and very satisfied to come out on top. If we can keep it running, that would be great, but there’s a long way to go yet. Keep doing it one race at a time," added Piastri.
Verstappen, armed with used soft tyres at the final restart, never had an opportunity to challenge the McLarens; he simply could not get close enough. Nevertheless, with Norris out, he finished P2, maintaining his record of a top-two finish in every Dutch Grand Prix he has contested.
The Red Bull driver was rarely far from the lead fight, though McLaren’s consistent pace on the hard tyre blunted his chances of mounting a late charge.
Verstappen: We didn’t have the pace of the McLarens
Verstappen said after the race: “It wasn’t easy. I gave it everything at the start to move forward. A little moment in Turn 2, but after we just had to do our own race. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the pace of the McLarens. We got a bit lucky with one retiring. In general, to be on the podium here is a great result. To be in second, I think, is a really good achievement for us."
Driver of the Day, as voted by fans, deservedly so for a change, was rookie Isack Hadjar delivered the drive of his career to take P3, securing Racing Bulls’ first podium of the season. The Frenchman had held off Leclerc earlier in the race and was in position to capitalise when Norris retired.
Hadjar kept his composure and made no mistakes during the tense four-lap sprint to the flag after the final Safety Car, fending off Russell to secure a maiden podium finish.
The French rookie said of his first podium drive: "It feels a bit unreal. What was most surprising for me was keeping that fourth place for the whole race. Unfortunately for Lando we took advantage of his [DNF] but we did no mistakes."
Hadjar: My first podium and hopefully much more
"The car was on rails the whole weekend and I'm really happy about myself because I maximised what I had, made no mistakes and brought home the podium. So I'm so happy for my guys. [Being on the podium] was always the target since I was a kid. So this is my first step, my first podium, and hopefully much more," added Hadjar.
Russell took P4 for Mercedes after a combative race that included wheel-to-wheel contact with Leclerc, while Albon claimed an excellent P5 for Williams. Bearman, starting from the pit lane, climbed through the order to P6 once Antonelli’s penalties were applied.
Stroll finished P7, Alonso recovered to P8 after a difficult strategy call, Tsunoda took P9, and Ocon completed the points in P10.
There were two major Safety Car periods: the first on lap 23 after Hamilton crashed at Turn 3, and the second on lap 53 when Antonelli collided with Leclerc, eliminating the Ferrari. Antonelli was handed 15 seconds in penalties for his incidents but still finished in the top ten before demotion.
With Norris’ retirement, Piastri leaves Zandvoort with a commanding lead in the standings. Verstappen remains third but with little chance of bridging the gap to the McLarens. Hadjar’s podium adds fresh intrigue to the midfield fight as Racing Bulls join the points battle with momentum.
2025 Dutch Grand Prix Race Result
2025 Dutch Grand Prix how the race unfolded
Formation lap: Piastri leads the field away. Clouds dark overhead. Both McLarens on front row.
Lap 1: Lights out. Piastri holds lead. Verstappen overtakes Norris for P2 with aggressive move into Turn 3.
Hadjar stays P4. Leclerc passes Russell for P5. Albon gains five spots to P10.
Hadjar stays P4. Leclerc passes Russell for P5. Albon gains five spots to P10.
Lap 2: Piastri 1.6s clear of Verstappen. Norris 1.5s behind Verstappen. Hadjar still P4 under pressure from Leclerc.
Lap 3: Rain warning for lap 7. Piastri leads by 2.2s over Verstappen. Norris 1.6s further back.
Lap 6: No rain yet. Piastri leads Verstappen by 3.1s. Norris outside DRS on Verstappen. Hamilton steady in P7.
Lap 8: Norris within DRS of Verstappen. Piastri lead grows to 4s. Leclerc pressuring Hadjar for P4.
Lap 9: Norris overtakes Verstappen around outside for P2. Stroll pits for fresh slicks, rejoins last.
Lap 12: Hadjar holds P4. Leclerc cannot find way through. Russell behind.
Lap 14: Slippery surface warning in sector. Cause uncertain.
Lap 15: Replay shows Stroll hit debris. Piastri reports drops on visor. Norris closes, gap down to 3.2s.
Lap 18: Gap stable at 3s. Verstappen 10s off lead. McLarens dominant.
Lap 19: Alonso pits for hards, rejoins downfield.
Lap 20: Tsunoda pits from P11. Antonelli stays out.
Lap 21: Rain increasing slightly but still slicks.
Lap 22: Leclerc pits to undercut Hadjar. Hamilton pressures Russell for P6.
Lap 23: Hamilton crashes at Turn 3. Safety Car deployed. Both McLarens pit for hards. Verstappen pits for mediums.
Lap 26: Safety Car ending. Restart coming.
Lap 27: Restart. Piastri holds P1. Norris defends P2 from Verstappen. Lawson and Sainz collide, drop to back.
Lap 29: Lawson and Sainz pit for repairs. Now P19 and P20.
Lap 31: Piastri leads Norris by 1.9s, Verstappen another second back. Russell attacks Hadjar for P4. Antonelli nearly passes Albon for P7. VSC for debris.
Lap 33: Leclerc overtakes Russell after VSC, up to P5. Contact between them under investigation. Sainz given 10s penalty for Lawson clash.
Lap 36: Norris told to pass Piastri on track. Gap 1.6s.
Lap 39: Verstappen within 3s of Norris. Holding P3.
Lap 41: Russell ordered to let Antonelli by for P6. Piastri leads Norris by 1.2s.
Lap 44: Norris trims gap to 1.1s. Piastri responds.
Lap 46: Hadjar P4, 2s clear of Leclerc. Haas cars slow without stopping. Alonso pits again from traffic.
Lap 47: Sainz furious at penalty. Running P18.
Lap 50: Piastri stretches lead to 1.5s over Norris. Verstappen 10s adrift in P3.
Lap 51: Alonso passes Hulkenberg for P16.
Lap 53: Safety Car. Leclerc out after collision with Antonelli at Turn 3. Antonelli continues.
Lap 54: McLaren double-stack for hards. Verstappen, Hadjar, Russell pit for softs.
Lap 56: Antonelli given 10s penalty for Leclerc collision.
Lap 57: Lapped cars unlap. Verstappen on softs aiming for McLarens at restart.
Lap 58: Restart. Piastri holds P1. Norris defends from Verstappen. Bearman passes Stroll for P10.
Lap 59: Piastri opens gap over Norris to 1s. Norris also clear of Verstappen.
Lap 60: Norris briefly under 1s behind Piastri, but gap back to 1.3s.
Lap 61: Antonelli under investigation for pit-lane speeding. Bearman passes Alonso for P9, chasing Gasly.
Lap 64: Piastri leads Norris by 1.5s. Light rain threatens. Antonelli penalties total 15s but still P7, 8s clear of Gasly.
Lap 65: Smoke from Norris’ McLaren. Norris stops trackside and retires. Safety Car deployed.
Lap 67: Safety Car still leading the field. Norris’ retirement promotes Hadjar to provisional P3. Oil on track delays restart.
Lap 69: Restart. Light drizzle returns. Order unchanged: Piastri P1, Verstappen P2, Hadjar P3.
Lap 70: Verstappen tries to stay within DRS of Piastri, gap nudges over 1s. Rain threat minimal with laps running out.
Lap 71: Piastri extends advantage beyond 1.5s. Bearman set for P6 once Antonelli’s 15s penalties applied.
Lap 72: Final lap. Piastri leads by over 1s and controls the pace to the flag.
Chequered flag: Piastri wins Dutch Grand Prix. Verstappen P2. Hadjar P3 for first F1 podium. Russell P4. Albon P5. Bearman P6 (after Antonelli penalties). Piastri’s championship lead over Norris becomes 34 points.
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