Oscar Piastri claimed his seventh victory of the season by winning the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix at the Zandvoort circuit. The Australian McLaren driver led the race from start to finish, showing great composure and control over his rivals throughout every phase of the Grand Prix. From the very start, Piastri held firm against the attacks of Max Verstappen, who had started from third on soft tires in an attempt to put pressure on the leader. However, Piastri’s precision through the corners and his tire management on the mediums quickly allowed him to build a safe gap.
The podium was completed by French rookie Isack Hadjar, who claimed his first top-three finish in Formula 1, benefitting from Lando Norris’s retirement after the Briton’s McLaren suffered a mechanical failure just a few laps from the end while running second. The race was also marked by as many as three safety car periods, all of which Piastri handled with composure, ensuring the restarts never compromised his lead. With this victory, Piastri extends his championship advantage to 34 points, strengthening his position as the title favorite.
McLaren’s Misfortune and Hadjar’s Stroke of Luck
The Grand Prix turned dramatic for McLaren when Lando Norris, running second and trying to close the gap to Piastri, suffered an engine failure and was forced to retire. His teammate, Piastri, remained unaffected and controlled the race with total authority, managing the safety car periods with precision and keeping Verstappen at bay.
Meanwhile, Isack Hadjar emerged as one of the standout figures of the weekend. The young French driver, who had already impressed in qualifying, maintained a solid pace throughout the race and managed the pressure from more experienced rivals. Norris’s retirement allowed him to climb onto the F1 podium for the first time, crossing the line in third place and establishing himself as a young talent to watch in the near future.
Trouble for Ferrari and Hamilton
Ferrari endured a difficult Sunday in Zandvoort. Charles Leclerc faced several setbacks throughout the race, beginning with a collision with Kimi Antonelli that resulted in a penalty and cost him valuable positions in the midfield. The Monegasque driver tried to fight back and manage his tires in the changing conditions, but the combination of the penalty, traffic, and pressure from faster rivals limited his ability to recover, leaving him with a result below expectations for the Scuderia.
Lewis Hamilton was at the center of one of the weekend’s most unfortunate moments. Under the threat of rain, the Briton braked too late into Turn 3 and hit the barrier with the front right of his Ferrari, causing his first retirement as a driver for the Italian team. The incident cut short his progress in the race and adds pressure on Ferrari, which is looking to consolidate Hamilton in his debut season with the Scuderia. Despite the setback, Hamilton will have the chance to bounce back in the upcoming rounds of the calendar, although Zandvoort laid bare Ferrari’s current struggles against McLaren and Red Bull.
