DUTCH GP: ZANDVOORT CROWNS PIASTRI, CHAMPIONSHIP TAKES A DIRECTION

The Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort could prove to be the turning point of the season. Oscar Piastri delivered a masterclass in composure and maturity, taking home a victory that carries enormous weight in the title fight. The Australian McLaren driver remained unshaken even in the most delicate moments, handling restarts and tense phases of the race with cold precision. By contrast, his teammate and direct rival, Lando Norris, saw his championship hopes crumble just a few kilometers from the finish line when his MCL39 suffered a sudden engine failure. A devastating blow that pushes him back 34 points behind the championship leader.

The sequence of events was particularly cruel. Norris had already lost position to Verstappen at the start, only to fight back with a decisive overtake that put him back on track. He then began to chip away at Piastri’s lead, closing the gap to less than a second and setting the stage for a fiery finish. All signs pointed to a thrilling McLaren showdown, until the “white smoke” moment ended his race—and with it, perhaps, some of his title hopes.

With Norris out of contention, Verstappen inherited second place, welcomed with cheers from his home crowd. Red Bull tried aggressive tactical solutions, adjusting his tire strategy to give him a fighting chance, but McLaren’s superiority was clear. After an impressive start, where the Dutchman overtook Norris with a bold maneuver, the pace of the RB21 gradually dropped, leaving him more than ten seconds behind Piastri. The championship now seems out of reach for him, though a respectable finish in the standings remains a realistic goal.

The real smiling face of the weekend was Isack Hadjar. The French Racing Bulls rookie delivered a flawless performance: fourth in qualifying, consistently strong during the race, and ultimately on the podium thanks to Norris’s retirement. A historic result, proving how quickly the young driver is rising, even without a top-tier car. A well-deserved reward for the Faenza-based team, which provided a competitive car under the most challenging circumstances.

Much less positive was Ferrari’s weekend. Zandvoort handed them a heavy zero. First, Hamilton crashed while battling Russell, then Leclerc was taken out by Andrea Kimi Antonelli shortly after his pit stop. Until that point, the Monegasque had shown grit and bravery with a couple of impressive overtakes, but his race ended at the same spot as Hamilton’s. The result: no points, and Mercedes cut the gap in the Constructors’ Championship to just 12 points.

Antonelli was one of the weekend’s negative protagonists. After a solid race that had brought him to sixth, he ruined it with a rookie mistake on Leclerc, resulting not only in the Ferrari driver’s elimination but also a double penalty that dropped him to 16th. The numbers highlight the gap to Russell: 91 points for the Brit in the last nine races, only 16 for the young Italian.

The race, however, offered celebrations for several outsiders. Alexander Albon brought Williams back to fifth place, starting from 15th and making the most of the safety-car periods. A similar feat was achieved by Oliver Bearman, who turned a start from the pit lane into an impressive sixth place with Haas, marking his best Formula 1 result. Haas also counted on Ocon’s tenth place, confirming a positive weekend.

Aston Martin delivered a solid performance, with Stroll and Alonso both in the points (seventh and eighth). Less impressive was Sauber, far from the front, while Alpine could take some consolation from Colapinto’s strong pace, finishing just outside the points.

Zandvoort, therefore, leaves us with a dominant McLaren, a championship seemingly leaning in Piastri’s favor, and a group of outsiders who seized the opportunity to write an important chapter of their season.

© Cavalieri Garage & Co.