The Australian Oscar Piastri, leader of the Formula 1 World Championship, won the Grand Prix of the Netherlands on Sunday in front of the title champion Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and the Frenchman Isack Hadjar, surprising 3rd who won, at 20, his first podium in the elite.
Starting in pole position, Piastri dominated from start to finish a race marked by the abandonment of his teammate Lando Norris, 2nd in the general classification. The Briton was the victim of a mechanical problem seven laps from the end, while he was 2nd.
It is a huge blow for Norris, who loses big in the rankings: arrived in the Netherlands with a delay of only 9 points, the relegated vice-champion is now relegated to 34 units at the end of this 15th round (out of 24) of the season, marked by a series of twists and turns behind Piastri.
Max Verstappen could not do better than 2nd
Under the very threatening sky on the Dutch side, the horizon was clear for the Australian. Author of the pole position for the fifth time of the season, he dominated a race with his head and shoulders that would obviously return to McLaren, as the “papaya” single -seaters have been bicycle since the first tests on Friday. Nothing seemed to be able to have the imperturbable “aussie” in the dunes by the North Sea: neither the pressure of Norris in his wheels before abandoning, nor the three cars of safety, and even less the rain, for a few minutes.
In the “oranje” cauldron acquired at the national hero Max Verstappen, the defending champion finished 2nd, without ever having been able to compete with the overpowered McLaren. Author of an excellent start from 3rd place, which he knew crucial on the Zandvoort circuit where it is difficult to overcome, the Dutchman still managed to recover the 2nd position of Norris, which he kept until the ninth round only, unable to resist his vice-champion longer.
While 3rd place seemed promised to him, the abandonment of his rival appeared as a nice stroke of fate for the Red Bull driver. Just as for Isack Hadjar who, at 20, becomes the youngest Frenchman to climb on an F1 podium.
Isack Hadjar in the big leagues
4th on the starting grid, the Racing Bulls driver had already signed a sacred performance on Saturday after having achieved the best qualifications of his young career in the elite, where he was promoted at the start of the season. “What surprised me the most was to have kept this 4th place throughout the race,” before Norris’ setbacks, reacted the Ile -de -France on arrival. “Sorry for Lando (…), but we didn’t make any mistakes, the car was perfect throughout the weekend and I am really satisfied with me”.
Hadjar notably resisted Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) perfectly – forced to abandon – and George Russell, who failed at the foot of the podium with his Mercedes.
Ferrari’s nightmare
Ferrari experienced a nightmare race after the abandonment of his two pilots: victim of a track exit, Lewis Hamilton was the first to throw in the towel, followed about thirty laps later by Leclerc, victim of a hook with the Mercedes of the Italian Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
“The car was a little nervous, but my rhythm seemed correct and I caught up George” for 5th place, “said Hamilton. “It is very unusual not to finish a race and to abandon so early,” he said.
It is a big blow for the Scuderia, 2nd in the manufacturer championship, which loses ground to general against Mercedes, 3rd and that it only distances from 12 points.
The season continues next weekend in Monza, Italy, at Ferrari this time, where “Sir Lewis” is expected for his first in red in the “Temple of speed”.
