Oscar Piastri Wins 7th Grand Prix, Extends Lead in F1 Drivers Championship
Lando Norris's engine caught fire during the Dutch Grand Prix, causing him to retire from the race and fall 34 points behind the winner, Oscar Piastri. Norris reported the incident, mentioning he smelled smoke in the cockpit and felt he might be on fire.
After his retirement, Norris sat disconsolate on a dune at the track in Zandvoort. His race engineer tried to console him, acknowledging his strong performance before the engine failure. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton also faced misfortune as he crashed out during the race, marking his first retirement of the season.
Piastri secured his seventh win of the Formula One season at the Dutch Grand Prix, with Norris forced to retire due to an engine failure. Hamilton's crash further added to his challenging season, as he aimed to recover from recent setbacks following a break.
Hamilton's crash occurred at Turn 3, where he lost control and hit the wall, possibly due to rain spots. Despite aiming for a fun weekend, Hamilton's race ended prematurely, leaving him apologetic to his team as he walked back to the Ferrari paddock.
The race saw Norris battling with Max Verstappen and Piastri for position. Verstappen briefly passed Norris but was later overtaken by him. Piastri maintained control throughout the race, securing a victory over Verstappen, who finished second. Isack Hadjar claimed third place, marking his first podium at just 20 years old.
Another incident involved Charles Leclerc and Kimi Antonelli, resulting in Leclerc's retirement due to a collision. Antonelli received a penalty for causing the incident and finished 16th. The race also saw Ollie Bearman achieving his best finish in sixth place after starting 19th.
The safety car was deployed twice during the race due to accidents, with McLaren efficiently managing pit stops. Norris expressed frustration with his team for not warning him about rain, which potentially led to Hamilton's crash. Despite the setbacks, Piastri maintained his lead and clinched the victory at the Dutch Grand Prix.