Formulation 1 world champion Lando Norris produced a mega drive to win the Dutch Grand Prix from pole whereas residence hero Max Verstappen brought about a pink flag by crashing out.
The McLaren driver crossed the road 11.5s forward of runner-up Kimi Antonelli, together with his Mercedes team-mate George Russell finishing the rostrum at Zandvoort.
It got here after Norris pipped dash winner Russell for pole forward of third-placed Antonelli they usually all, like the remainder of the grid, began on slicks regardless of rain an hour earlier than lights out.
However the rain was on and off inflicting a wet-dry floor, the hazards of which emerged on the finish of the opening lap as soon as Norris had an ideal getaway whereas Antonelli overtook Russell at Flip 1.
That’s as a result of Verstappen dipped a tyre onto the white line on the within of the ultimate nook, inflicting the Crimson Bull driver to spin into the barrier which unfold particles on the circuit.
“Yeah that’s it – sorry!,” stated the Dutchman by way of workforce radio, having introduced out the pink flag simply as Gabriel Bortoleto additionally had a 360-degree spin on the banking however by some means prevented injury.
So one other standing begin adopted – after Oliver Bearman suffered an engine failure on the formation tour – and far to Norris’ dismay this time, as Antonelli squeezed by at Flip 1 for the lead.
Begin motion
Picture by: Clive Rose / Getty Pictures
That was regardless of softs on the McLaren in comparison with mediums for Antonelli, who primarily had a double delight as title rival Russell misplaced third to exhausting runner Oscar Piastri at Flip 7.
Russell simply didn’t have the tempo, quickly being pressurised by Charles Leclerc as he reported stability issues, however the tight observe allowed him to carry agency earlier than swapping mediums for hards on lap 18.
McLaren responded the earlier lap with Piastri, however this backfired as a gradual 5.4s cease put him behind Russell simply as Antonelli had streaked 2.2s away from Norris out entrance.
That hole closed to a second as soon as the pit window – the place all of the frontrunners selected exhausting tyres bar Leclerc on mediums – had handed, but the reigning champion struggled to make inroads.
The wheel-to-wheel battles have been extra prevalent decrease down: Yuki Tsunoda got here out on prime in a mega multi-car battle for the highest 10, whereas Leclerc was continually on Piastri’s tail.
That little battle lastly ended on lap 34 when the Ferrari and McLaren went via the opening corners wheel-to-wheel, just for Leclerc to edge by for fourth across the exterior of Flip 3.
There was but extra distress for Piastri as he was overtaken for fifth at Flip 1 on the next tour by Lewis Hamilton, who rapidly closed in on team-mate Leclerc.
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Picture by: Simon Galloway / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
The seven-time world champion was angling for workforce orders however they didn’t arrive and Hamilton sarcastically advised his Ferrari squad: “Wonderful means of losing time guys, good job!”
Hamilton finally moved by although as soon as Leclerc made his second pitstop on lap 43, two excursions after the Mercedes duo, and 5 earlier than Norris got here in for an additional set of exhausting tyres.
However Ferrari stored Hamilton out which left him with first on observe, but the battle for the online lead emerged behind as Norris quickly closed on Antonelli, who complained about his rear Pirellis.
So come lap 54 Hamilton, Antonelli and Norris have been all inside a second and the reigning world champion made a sweeping transfer on Antonelli across the exterior of Flip 1.
It was that very same lap that Norris subsequently took the precise lead at Flip 11 from Hamilton, who dropped behind Antonelli at Flip 1 the next lap – simply as Esteban Ocon brought about a digital security automotive by stopping at Flip 4.
“Are you utilizing me as a guinea pig,” complained Hamilton, eager to pit, and that he lastly did beneath the VSC by taking softs – likewise for Antonelli, whereas Norris and now second-placed Russell stayed out on exhausting rubber.
Norris admitted he was “fearful” by that call and had causes to be so, because the benefit of the brisker tyre grew to become evident with Antonelli rapidly decreasing his hole to Russell.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, George Russell, Mercedes
Picture by: Clive Rose / Formulation 1 by way of Getty Pictures
Mercedes finally advised the Briton to let his team-mate by with the swap occurring at Flip 1 on lap 65, however this left Russell weak in opposition to Hamilton, claiming “we’ve misplaced a double podium”.
However Russell held agency, helped by a short VSC on lap 70 for particles at Flip 5, to take the ultimate podium spot, 4.3s behind Antonelli and 15.8s off Norris who took his second win of 2026.
Hamilton completed fourth, Leclerc took fifth and Piastri was sixth, whereas Crimson Bull stand-in Liam Lawson, Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg, Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly respectively accomplished the highest 10.
The end result has prolonged Antonelli’s championship benefit, because the 19-year-old leaves the Netherlands with a 59-point lead over each Russell and Hamilton in second.
F1 Dutch GP – Race end result
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