Piastri Opens Gap In Title Race After Norris Forced To Retire From F1 Dutch Gp

Oscar Piastri won nan Dutch Grand Prix pinch a ascendant thrust to triumph from rod position, a triumph which whitethorn person turned nan people of nan world title aft his title rival Lando Norris was forced to discontinue from 2nd spot arsenic an lipid leak deed his car conscionable 7 laps from nan end.

The title was besides marked by a remarkably uncharacteristic, apparently unforced, correction from Lewis Hamilton which led to nan seven-time champion crashing retired early successful nan race, his dream for a caller commencement successful this 2nd half of play astatine Ferrari ending successful bitter disappointment.

Max Verstappen took 2nd for Red Bull, Isack Hadjar was 3rd for Racing Bulls, his first podium and a superb consequence successful his rookie season. George Russell was 4th for Mercedes and Alex Albon 5th for Williams.

A shocking play for Ferrari was compounded erstwhile Charles Leclerc fought pinch nan Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli, besides astatine move three, sending nan Monegasque driver spinning into nan barriers and ending his race. Antonelli had been going up nan wrong arsenic Leclerc was connected nan racing statement erstwhile they clipped wheels connected thigh 54.

Piastri’s triumph was arsenic assured arsenic immoderate he has made this play and really did not look successful uncertainty from nan infinitesimal he had held his lead done move 1 astatine nan commencement of nan race. Composed retired beforehand done a little play of ray rainfall and 3 information car restarts, Norris put unit connected him but pinch nan cars truthful evenly matched could ne'er really frighten arsenic Piastri took different captious win.

Second place, however, had looked safe for nan British driver until Norris knowledgeable nan astir damnable luck. On thigh 65 he abruptly slowed arsenic fume poured from his motor arsenic it grounded because of what he said was an lipid leak, an highly uncommon nonaccomplishment successful nan modern era. He pulled over, climbed retired and moved, dejected, to beryllium unsocial connected nan dunes, helmet connected and caput bowed sitting disconsolate arsenic his hopes fell to pieces done nary responsibility of his own.

However, heading into nan title run-in firmly connected nan beforehand ft is nan cleanable opening for Piastri arsenic nan title enters its last phase. With 9 meetings remaining, he has extended his lead complete Norris from 9 to 34 points.

Oscar Piastri stands triumphant atop his McLaren aft cruising to triumph successful nan Dutch Grand Prix. Photograph: Sem van der Wal/EPA

For Hamilton this was nan worst imaginable commencement to what he hoped would beryllium a chance to reset what has been a difficult play connected his debut pinch Ferrari.

Last week Hamilton has said he was wished to person nosy driving again, to bask himself competing for nan squad he had dreamed of joining erstwhile he was kid and that he felt affirmative and motivated. His hopes were near successful tatters successful a ablution of c fibre arsenic nan beforehand of his Ferrari came isolated connected effect pinch nan barriers.

With very ray rainfall conscionable intensifying a small connected thigh 21, Hamilton was caught out. At move 3 he went wide connected to nan painted portion of nan way which was slippery, mislaid nan rear and slid inexorably disconnected into nan barriers. “I’m truthful sorry guys,” he said as, intelligibly dejected, he made his measurement connected ft backmost to nan paddock, helmet still firmly on.

Before nan summertime break he had been downcast owed to a qualifying he described arsenic “absolutely useless” successful Hungary. But a recharge had seen him upbeat and energised erstwhile much astatine Zandvoort until he mislaid nan car successful circumstances successful which he usually exhibits unflappable control, yet he did stay optimistic.

“Took maine by complete astonishment what happened, I mislaid nan rear up nan bank, and that was it. I was hoping to prevention it, but I didn’t,” he said.

“Apart from that, it’s been a really coagulated weekend. I consciousness for illustration I made progress, conscionable overall, and my attack and everything. To travel distant pinch thing is decidedly painful. I’m sad for nan squad because I really wanted to get those points for nan squad today.”

Piastri, however, went connected to cruise to nan flag, unflappable to nan past aft nan last restart pursuing Norris’s retirement, he took nan triumph pinch complete composure and leaving his rival pinch a upland to climb.

Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon were sixth and 10th for Haas, Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso were successful seventh and eighth for Aston Martin and Yuki Tsunoda ninth for Red Bull.