DUTCH GP: NORRIS TAKES DOWN ANTONELLI AT ZANDVOORT

Lando Norris picked up exactly where he left off, claiming his second consecutive victory of the season at Zandvoort. The reigning World Champion won the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix from pole position, backing up his Hungarian GP triumph before the summer break and securing the 13th Formula 1 victory of his career, his second of the year.

The win, however, was anything but straightforward. The race was stopped at the end of the opening lap after home favorite Max Verstappen crashed out on a still-damp track. The resulting red flag led to a second start, where Kimi Antonelli caught Norris off guard and took control of the race.

The McLaren driver was forced to rebuild his race over the long run, keeping the pressure on the No. 12 Mercedes while waiting for the right opportunity to strike. During the final stint on hard tires, Norris found another level of pace, closed the gap to Antonelli, and passed him on track with the decisive move of the Grand Prix.

Antonelli still walked away with an extremely valuable runner-up finish for his championship campaign. The 19-year-old Italian minimized the damage while further strengthening his position at the top of the standings ahead of the highly anticipated home race at Monza. George Russell completed the podium in third after a strong weekend that marked his return to front-running form.

Ferrari, meanwhile, leaves Zandvoort with far less than the SF-26's potential suggested was possible. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc finished fourth and fifth respectively, despite showing competitive race pace that was largely in line with Mercedes.

The Dutch Grand Prix further strengthens Antonelli's position in the championship battle. The Italian will arrive at Monza leading the standings by 59 points over Hamilton and Russell, 83 over Norris, and 87 over Leclerc. Mercedes also extends its advantage in the Constructors' Championship, moving 87 points clear of Ferrari.

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