Lando Norris suffered a dramatic late engine failure at the Dutch Grand Prix as McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri took a major step towards the title.
Pole-sitter Piastri was cruising towards a lights-to-flag victory at Zandvoort, holding off championship rival Norris before the British driver reported smoke from his cockpit seven laps from the end and swiftly came to a halt.
READ: Lewis Hamilton crashes OUT of Dutch Grand Prix
A dejected Norris sat with his head between his knees on the bank at the side of the track as his title hopes suffered a massive blow, with Piastri opening up a 34-point lead with nine rounds of the championship remaining.
It was also another miserable afternoon for Lewis Hamilton, who began the weekend by saying he wanted to enjoy racing for Ferrari after suggesting they should ditch him when he started and finished 12th in Hungary before the summer break. He was running seventh when, in light rain, he crashed into the barriers and suffered his first retirement for the Scuderia.
Follow live coverage of the Dutch Grand Prix with The Independent below:
F1 DUTCH GRAND PRIX - LATEST UPDATES
- Oscar Piastri wins the Dutch GP; Verstappen 2nd; Hadjar 3rd
- OUT! Norris forced to retire after oil leak
- CRASH! Lewis Hamilton hits the wall
- POSITION BACK! Norris takes second place back from Verstappen
- START! Verstappen takes P2 from Norris
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, after crashing out of the race:
20:00 , Kieran Jackson“Today hurts. It was a difficult weekend all along, and it ended in the worst way. In terms of pace, we were quite strong, which was a positive turn of events, and it was good to gain some positions.
“Heading to Monza now, which is a special place for me and the whole team. I don’t think we are in the same position as last year, but we will give it everything to recover and make it a great weekend for all our tifosi at home.”
DRIVER CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
19:00 , Kieran Jackson1. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 309 points
2. Lando Norris (McLaren) – 275 points
3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 205 points
4. George Russell (Mercedes) – 184 points
5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 151 points
6. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – 109 points
7. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 64 points
8. Alex Albon (Williams) – 64 points
9. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) - 37 points
10. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) – 37 points
11. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – 32 points
12. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – 30 points
13. Esteban Ocon (Haas) – 27 points
14. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – 20 points
15. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – 20 points
16. Ollie Bearman (Haas) – 16 points
17. Carlos Sainz (Williams) – 16 points
18. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) – 14 points
19. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) – 12 points
20. Franco Colapinto (Alpine) – 0 points
21. Jack Doohan (Alpine) – 0 points
Dejected Lando Norris reacts to massive F1 title blow: ‘It hurts’
18:00 , Kieran JacksonLando Norris put on a brave face after a seismic F1 championship swing against him following an unfortunate retirement at the Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday.
Norris, running safely in second place behind McLaren teammate and championship leader Oscar Piastri, suffered an oil leak with seven laps to go and was forced to retire.
Piastri went on to claim victory and extended his lead from nine points to 34 points, with nine races left this season. Norris, however, reflected on a cruel end to his afternoon on the bankside by the side of the track.
Full quotes below:
Dejected Lando Norris reacts to massive F1 title blow: ‘It hurts’
TOP-10 AT DUTCH GRAND PRIX
17:15 , Kieran Jackson1. Oscar Piastri
2. Max Verstappen
3. Isack Hadjar
4. George Russell
5. Alex Albon
6. Ollie Bearman
7. Lance Stroll
8. Fernando Alonso
9. Yuki Tsunoda
10. Esteban Ocon
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella:
16:52 , Kieran Jackson“Today we experienced the two sides of motorsport. On one side, the satisfaction and joy of the victory for Oscar.
“On the other side, the disappointment and pain of Lando. This is motor racing.
“We are one team, we go together. We will review and see where the problem is and fix it.
“100% absolutely. If possible, we will see the best of Lando as he tries to recover the points he missed. A problem on the car, a situation he wouldn’t like. Lando will give his best and we will try and recover the points.”
Time for the podium!
16:30 , Kieran JacksonWhat a moment this is now for Isack Hadjar, who takes his place on the podium in Formula One for the first time - the fifth-youngest podium-getter in F1 history.
But it’s Oscar Piastri who takes the top step, with the Australian and British national anthems!
Oscar Piastri after claiming his seventh win of the season:
16:15 , Kieran Jackson“It feels good, controlled the race when I needed to, incredibly unfortunate for Lando at the end. But I was in control, bit of a different race to 12 months ago. Very satisfied to come out on top.
“Got it together in qualifying and was happy with the pace today, a few safety cars which spiced it up... big team effort.”
Max Verstappen, after finishing second:
15:56 , Kieran Jackson“Gave it everything at the start, we just had to do our own race, we didn’t have the pace of the McLarens.
“To be on the podium here is a great result, good achievement for us.
On move at the start: “I tried to send it into turn 3 but there was too much sand!”
Isack Hadjar, after his first podium in F1:
15:51 , Kieran Jackson“It feels a bit unreal! What was most surprising was keeping that fourth place for the whole race, unfortunate for Lando, we took advantage. I really maximised what we had, brought home the podium, so happy for my guys!”
“That was always the target, this is a first step, my first podium, hopefully much more.”
Huge celebrations at Racing Bulls!
15:48 , Kieran JacksonIsack Hadjar jumps into Racing Bulls’ mechanics in celebration - great moment!
Oscar Piastri:
15:44 , Kieran Jackson“Sorry for Lando with what happened but well done everybody.”
Oscar Piastri wins the Dutch Grand Prix!
15:43 , Kieran JacksonVictory for Oscar Piastri, who wins in Zandvoort for the first time!
Max Verstappen takes second, with Isack Hadjar in third for a tremendous first podium in F1!
4-10: Russell, Albon, Bearman, Stroll, Alonso, Tsunoda, Ocon
What a dramatic race!
Last lap! (Lap 72/72)
15:42 , Kieran JacksonPiastri has a 1.2-second lead - and has just one lap to go!
One more lap for RB’s Isack Hadjar as well, as he eyes his first ever podium in F1!
Safety car comes in (Lap 69/72)
15:39 , Kieran JacksonSafety car comes in and, for the third time today, Piastri gets away well and staves off a challenge from Verstappen.
Top-10: Piastri, Verstappen, Hadjar, Russell, Albon, Antonelli, Bearman, Stroll, Alonso, Tsunoda
Heartbreak for Lando Norris
15:37 , Kieran JacksonA tough moment for the McLaren driver.
Lando Norris: (Lap 67/72)
15:34 , Kieran JacksonNorris: “Oil leak, failure. It doesn’t matter. Unlucky boys. Unlucky.”
Norris is out and is just sat in the dand dunes.
What a huge moment in the world championship.
Norris out (Lap 66/72)
15:33 , Kieran JacksonNorris’ deficit to Piastri will drop from nine points to 34 points now.
That is gutting.
It means Verstappen moves up to second and Hadjar, sensationally, is about to claim his first podium!
There are six laps left though...
Lando Norris out of the race! (Lap 65/72)
15:31 , Kieran JacksonOh wow - Norris’s engine has blown!
He’s stopped out on track! A huge swing in the world championship.
SAFETY CAR.
Piastri holds lead from Norris (Lap 59/72)
15:25 , Kieran JacksonPiastri, once more, gets away cleanly and keeps first place, while Norris holds off a move from Verstappen at turn one!
Norris has stayed within one-second...
Top-10: Piastri, Norris, Verstappen, Hadjar, Russell, Albon, Antonelli, Gasly, Bearman, Alonso
Kimi Antonelli gets 10-second penalty (Lap 57/72)
15:20 , Kieran JacksonThe stewards have not wasted their time - a 10-second penalty for the 19-year-old Mercedes driver for causing that collision with Leclerc.
Right decision - Antonelli clearly to blame.
Meanwhile, at the front, Piastri and Norris have switched to hards but the gaggle of cars behind are on softs.
So, can Verstappen have another go at Norris here?!
Safety car is coming in...
Majority of the field pit (Lap 55/72)
15:16 , Kieran JacksonPiastri, Norris and Verstappen all pit under the safety car!
Antonelli, without a wheel, also gets to the pits.
But what a horror-show for Ferrari - a double DNF!
Leclerc crashes out! (Lap 54/72)
15:13 , Kieran JacksonOh wow - another crash out for Ferrari!
This time it’s Charles Leclerc!
He tangled with Kimi Antonelli at turn 3! Safety car!
Lewis Hamilton in media pen:
15:10 , Kieran Jackson“I’m really not sure [what happened], will have to look back at it. As I went up the bank, the rear snapped out and I couldn’t recover it.
“The car was a bit twitchy but I think we made real progress this weekend. My pace was looking pretty decent. I was catching George [Russell].
“But so unusual not to finish a race. It’s definitely not great, but it is what it is.”
Norris can't get within one second (Lap 48/72)
15:07 , Kieran JacksonBoth Piastri and Norris are really pumping in the lap times, but the Brit can’t get within one second. The gap is 1.4 seconds, currently.
Further back, Verstappen is nine seconds off Norris but a comfortable 2.3 seconds ahead of Hadjar, who is quite impressively holding on to fourth so far.
5-10: Leclerc, Antonelli, Russell, Albon, Stroll, Ocon
Carlos Sainz on 10-second penalty (Lap 44/72)
15:05 , Kieran JacksonSainz: “Are you joking? It’s the most ridiculous thing in my life!”
The Spaniard is fuming!
Norris closing in on Piastri (Lap 40/72)
14:57 , Kieran JacksonThe gap out in front is now just 1.1 seconds - can Norris get within one-second and therefore get some DRS?
Top-10: Piastri, Norris, Verstappen, Hadjar, Leclerc, Russell, Antonelli, Albon, Stroll, Ocon
VIDEO: Hamilton crash
14:52 , Kieran JacksonOnboard with Lewis as he finds the barriers 👀#F1 #DutchGP pic.twitter.com/jIONr2DGDk
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 31, 2025
Carlos Sainz gets 10-second penalty (Lap 35/72)
14:51 , Kieran JacksonBoth Sainz and Lawson dropped down the order after their collision to last place, and Sainz has been given a penalty!
Strikes me as a bit harsh, that...
Meanwhile, Leclerc’s move on Russell is under investigation.
Piastri two seconds clear (Lap 34/72)
14:50 , Kieran JacksonOut in front, Piastri has a 1.7 second lead to Norris, with Verstappen a further 1.7 seconds behind...
Leclerc takes fifth from Russell! (Lap 33/72)
14:49 , Kieran JacksonAs VSC ends, Leclerc goes super aggressive on Russell and, perhaps with a bit of gravel on his tyres, made the move stick at turn 10!
Leclerc then defended fifth place from Russell on the main straight superbly!
Leclerc: “He doesn’t leave me the space, he can’t complain.”
Russell: “He was fully off the track, surely?”
Will the stewards have a look?
Virtual safety car! (Lap 31/72)
14:46 , Kieran JacksonAfter a light collision between Sainz and Lawson on the main straight, a piece of debris is right in the middle of the track.
Virtual safety car called - race is neutralised as a marshal runs onto the track to remove the debris!
Piastri keeps lead at start (Lap 27/72)
14:41 , Kieran JacksonThe Australian controls the start cleanly, and keeps first place - his lead is 0.8 seconds.
Verstappen trails Norris by 1.6 seconds.
Top-two on the hards incidentally, with Verstappen on mediums.
Safety car in this lap (Lap 26/72)
14:39 , Kieran JacksonSafety car comes in - here’s the top-10:
Piastri, Norris, Verstappen, Hadjar, Russell, Leclerc, Lawson, Sainz, Ocon, Albon
Lewis Hamilton's crash (Lap 24/72)
14:35 , Kieran JacksonHamilton’s engineer: “Are you okay?”
Hamilton: “Yeah I’m so sorry guys.”
Piastri and Norris pit! (Lap 24/72)
14:34 , Kieran JacksonThey’re all pitting now and it’s a double-stack for McLaren!
Leclerc had just come in, so he’ll lose a lot of positions I think here!
What a nightmare few minutes for Ferrari!
Lewis Hamilton crashes! (Lap 23/72)
14:33 , Kieran JacksonOh wow!
Hamilton has crashed into the wall at turn 3 - and he’s OUT of the race!
SAFETY CAR!
Lewis Hamilton in seventh: (Lap 23/72)
14:32 , Kieran Jackson“Definitely have to undercut these guys, can’t get closer.”
Will Hamilton dive in? He’s one second behind Russell....
Lando Norris on radio (Lap 19/72)
14:29 , Kieran Jackson“Starting to struggle a bit more with the rears,” says Norris, whose gap to Piastri is 3.3 seconds.
Rain is very light so far, so not enough for intermediate tyres. Will it increase? We shall see.
Rain incoming! (Lap 15/72)
14:22 , Kieran Jackson“I’ve got drops of rain on my visor,” says Piastri.
How heavy will this rain be?!
Norris sets new fastest lap (Lap 12/72)
14:20 , Kieran JacksonThe Brit sets a new fastest lap of the race but still trails Piastri by 3.7 seconds.
And he’s dropped Verstappen absolutely rapidly - the gap is already 4.8 seconds to third!
TOP-10 AFTER FIRST 10 LAPS
14:17 , Kieran Jackson1. Piastri
2. Norris
3. Verstappen
4. Hadjar
5. Leclerc
6. Russell
7. Hamilton
8. Lawson
9. Sainz
10. Albon
Norris swoops around Verstappen to take second! (Lap 9/72)
14:15 , Kieran JacksonLovely move from Lando!
The Brit surges down the outside at turn 1 and makes it stick, taking back second place from Verstappen!
Now he can go and chase his teammate...
“Nice job, let’s go and get Oscar,” says his engineer Will Joseph.
Round the outside!
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) August 31, 2025
What a move from Lando to get him back into second 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/XytXBWKJc5
Oscar Piastri extends his lead (Lap 8/72)
14:14 , Kieran JacksonPiastri is building and building his lead to four seconds now from Verstappen, while Norris has closed in to within DRS range of the Dutchman - 0.6 seconds.
It’s just got very murky at Zandvoort.... think the rain is on its way!
Rain on its way (Lap 5/72)
14:09 , Kieran JacksonPiastri’s engineer Tom Stallard warning his driver that rain is expected in around seven minutes - so that could shake things up!
The Australian’s lead is 2.2 seconds already to Verstappen, who is 1.6 seconds clear of Norris.
Norris drops off
14:08 , Kieran JacksonNightmare start for Norris, who has dropped to third and is over 1.5 seconds behind Verstappen.
Further back, Leclerc has taken fifth from George Russell but Isack Hadjar - so far - is keeping hold of fourth place.
1-10: Piastri, Verstappen, Norris, Hadjar, Leclerc, Russell, Hamilton, Lawson, Sainz, Albon
Lights out!
14:05 , Kieran JacksonSensational start!
Piastri fends off Verstappen’s wild challenge around the outside - but Norris does not!
Verstappen almost slides off the track at turn 3 but keeps the car on the road and takes second!
Norris drops a spot to third...
Formation lap:
14:04 , Kieran JacksonOscar Piastri leads the 19 cars on the grid away for the formation lap. While the top-two are on medium tyres, Verstappen in third is on the soft tyre!
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton is under investigation for not lifting under yellow flag conditions in the reconnaissance laps to the grid! It’ll be investigated after the session...
Attendance across the weekend has been announced as 305,000 - another impressive number.
But who will they see victorious today? We’re about to find out!
A reminder of the starting grid for the race in Zandvoort:
13:59 , Kieran Jackson1. Oscar Piastri
2. Lando Norris
3. Max Verstappen
4. Isack Hadjar
5. George Russell
6. Charles Leclerc
7. Lewis Hamilton
8. Liam Lawson
9. Carlos Sainz
10. Fernando Alonso
11. Kimi Antonelli
12. Yuki Tsunoda
13. Gabriel Bortoleto
14. Pierre Gasly
15. Alex Albon
16. Franco Colapinto
17. Nico Hulkenberg
18. Esteban Ocon
19. Lance Stroll
Pit lane. Ollie Bearman
Dutch Grand Prix
13:58 , Kieran JacksonHere we go then!
Oscar Piastri on pole for the very short run down into turn 1 but - as shown last year - second can get a jump down the inside, can Lando Norris do that today?
Max Verstappen can’t be counted out in third at his home race, with Isack Hadjar in fourth.
Lewis Hamilton is down in seventh - what can he do around Zandvoort?
We’re about to find out!
McLaren CEO Zak Brown:
13:51 , Kieran JacksonOn his two drivers and strategy: “We let them go! Qualifying was awesome to see both drivers at the top of the game.
“They’re free to race, Max will stick his nose in – just need a clean first lap.
“The constructors is looking pretty good, we don’t want to change the way we approach a weekend, don’t want to be irresponsible, want to keep doing what we’ve been doing to this point.”
George Russell, who starts P5:
13:48 , Kieran Jackson“Overtaking here is one of the hardest but a few raindrops in the sky, just being alert quickly.
“Isack did a great job, I think we’ll have the pace advantage over him today.”
Time for the Dutch national anthem in Zandvoort
13:46 , Kieran JacksonAmid a rapturous atmosphere on the North Sea coast, it’s time for the national anthem of the Netherlands.
Performed on the grid by Henk Poort....
Dutch international and new Tottenham signing Xavi Simons on the grid:
13:44 , Kieran Jackson“I’ve been here in a couple of times.
“Very happy to make this step with Tottenham.
“I’m supporting Max.”
Lando Norris eyeing a quick start to get ahead of Oscar Piastri
13:40 , Kieran Jackson“About getting a perfect start, it’s my best chance. That’s all I can try and do, if things don’t go my way, I have a long race ahead of me and hope for the best.”
On Verstappen in P3: “We’re eyes forward, we know he can be an issue but we know that in every single race, will try and stay ahead of him at the beginning but am confident we can get him back later on if not.”
“The start is my best opportunity.”
"It's my best chance" 💫
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) August 31, 2025
Lando is looking for the perfect start at Zandvoort 🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/IepqO0QFbh
Isack Hadjar was the star man in qualifying
13:35 , Kieran JacksonA brilliant P4 for the Frenchman - can he claim a first F1 podium today?
"It's not very realistic, but you've got to dream big" 💭🤩
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) August 31, 2025
Can Isack turn his P4 into a dream podium at Zandvoort? pic.twitter.com/lFTL8K5Bi4
Driver Standings heading into round 15:
13:30 , Kieran JacksonPiastri has a nine-point lead in the world championship to McLaren teammate Norris:
1. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 284 points
2. Lando Norris (McLaren) – 275 points
3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 187 points
4. George Russell (Mercedes) – 157 points
5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 139 points
6. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – 109 points
7. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 64 points
8. Alex Albon (Williams) – 54 points
9. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) - 37 points
10. Esteban Ocon (Haas) – 27 points
11. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – 26 points
12. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – 26 points
13. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) – 22 points
14. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – 20 points
15. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – 20 points
16. Carlos Sainz (Williams) – 16 points
17. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) – 14 points
18. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) – 10 points
19. Ollie Bearman (Haas) – 8 points
20. Franco Colapinto (Alpine) – 0 points
21. Jack Doohan (Alpine) – 0 points
Dutch GP preview: McLaren set to resume title tussle on F1 return but Red Bull must solve alarming problem
13:15 , Kieran JacksonFor the first time in four years, F1 returns after the traditional summer interval with the race for the drivers’ world championship very much in the balance.
McLaren’s impressive dominance – but intriguing refusal to label a driver their clear No 1 – means it is a straight shoot-out between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris for their first ever title, in a battle set to go down to the wire. Ahead of round 15 this weekend in Zandvoort, the Australian has a lead of just nine points.
Further down the pack, there are plenty of talking points, not least Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton’s tumultuous partnership so far. The seven-time world champion is yet to finish on the podium; a record he will be desperate to extinguish in the remaining 10 races.
With less than four months left of the 2025 season, The Independent takes a look at the five main talking points ahead of this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort.
McLaren resume title tussle but Red Bull must solve alarming problem
Max Verstappen, after qualifying third:
13:08 , Kieran Jackson“This weekend was tricky for us but qualifying was the best I’ve felt. P3, I’m very happy with that... the energy on the crowd is amazing, always very special.
“Let’s see what we can do, just focus on our own race, I hope we can keep it up going into the race.”
Lewis Hamilton, who qualified P7:
13:06 , Kieran Jackson“It was OK, I was looking for progress, out of Q3 in last few races, that is progress. The package has been difficult and challenging. Charles is P1 last race to being six-tenths off. I’ve enjoyed the weekend more so far.
“From my side, I’ve made some adjustments to my approach, definitely been in a better place, the break helps, a lot calmer through this weekend.”
FULL STARTING GRID
13:04 , Kieran Jackson1. Oscar Piastri
2. Lando Norris
3. Max Verstappen
4. Isack Hadjar
5. George Russell
6. Charles Leclerc
7. Lewis Hamilton
8. Liam Lawson
9. Carlos Sainz
10. Fernando Alonso
11. Kimi Antonelli
12. Yuki Tsunoda
13. Gabriel Bortoleto
14. Pierre Gasly
15. Alex Albon
16. Franco Colapinto
17. Nico Hulkenberg
18. Esteban Ocon
19. Lance Stroll
Pit lane. Ollie Bearman
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff:
12:59 , Kieran Jackson“We have struggled to consistently unlock the pace of the car so far this weekend here in Zandvoort. The windy conditions have made it a handful for both George and Kimi and, whilst there have been flashes of performance, we knew Qualifying would be tricky.
“That proved to be the case with Kimi unfortunate to be eliminated in Q2. George was able to progress to Q3 but some snaps of oversteer cost him a place on the second row.
“Starting P5 and P11 at a circuit that is notoriously difficult to overtake means we will have our work cut out today.”
Oscar Piastri, after claiming pole:
12:50 , Kieran Jackson“That was the definition of peaking at the right time. Super happy to come out with the result, all the points tomorrow, but to come out with that - I’m pretty stoked!
“You keep chipping way, nice thing about having so much practice. I just improved the parts where I already wasn’t bad, overall very happy.
“We’re both trying to beat each other every weekend, there’s a few variables to mix up, let’s see what happens tomorrow.”
Constructor standings heading into Dutch GP:
12:42 , Kieran Jackson1. McLaren - 559 points
2. Ferrari - 260 points
3. Mercedes - 236 points
4. Red Bull - 194 points
5. Williams - 70 points
6. Aston Martin - 52 points
7. Sauber - 51 points
8. Racing Bulls - 45 points
9. Haas - 35 points
10. Alpine - 20 points
COMMENT: Cadillac play it safe with Bottas and Perez – an F1 line-up lacking one key ingredient
12:36 , Kieran JacksonAs an F1 summer break distinctly lacking in speculation and conjecture draws to a close, confirmation of Cadillac’s first-ever Formula One driver line-up on Tuesday did not ruffle any feathers. For many months, the talk of the paddock was that Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez were the frontrunners to occupy the seats at F1’s soon-to-be 11th team. Ultimately, the powers that be at Cadillac’s new UK-based hub in Silverstone, and across the Atlantic in Indiana and North Carolina, ignored widely held wishes for youth and American involvement and instead plumped for both drivers.
In many regards, it is a decision steeped in realism and common sense. For an outfit joining the world’s most technical sport at the start of a new era, their driver line-up presented a chance to add know-how and expertise to their roster, less than seven months out from the team’s daunting debut in Australia.
Full piece below:
Cadillac play it safe with Bottas and Perez: an F1 line-up lacking one key ingredient
FULL STARTING GRID
12:30 , Kieran Jackson1. Oscar Piastri
2. Lando Norris
3. Max Verstappen
4. Isack Hadjar
5. George Russell
6. Charles Leclerc
7. Lewis Hamilton
8. Liam Lawson
9. Carlos Sainz
10. Fernando Alonso
11. Kimi Antonelli
12. Yuki Tsunoda
13. Gabriel Bortoleto
14. Pierre Gasly
15. Alex Albon
16. Franco Colapinto
17. Nico Hulkenberg
18. Esteban Ocon
19. Ollie Bearman
20. Lance Stroll
Charles Leclerc after qualifying sixth:
12:26 , Kieran Jackson“I’m very disappointed with myself, I’ve been very poor. I’ve been trying to chase something that wasn’t in the car this weekend, we lost a lot of lap time in two or three corners.
“I’m really not happy with my Q3 lap.
“In three-tenths it can go from nightmare to good starting position. We need to be perfect and we were far from it.”
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella:
12:16 , Kieran Jackson“A strong and successful Qualifying in Zandvoort as we lockout the front row for tomorrow’s Grand Prix. With just a few milliseconds deciding Pole position, both Oscar and Lando displayed solid performances in tricky conditions, driving on the limit in an extremely close session to set the two quickest-ever laps around this circuit.
“As with today’s wind in Q3, there are many variables that will contribute to tomorrow's race, including a persistent risk of rain, making it an interesting afternoon.
“However, we will work to put ourselves in the best position possible to capitalise on our grid positions and start the second half of the season with a pleasing result.”
Driver Standings heading into round 15:
11:59 , Kieran JacksonPiastri has a nine-point lead in the world championship to McLaren teammate Norris:
1. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 284 points
2. Lando Norris (McLaren) – 275 points
3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 187 points
4. George Russell (Mercedes) – 157 points
5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 139 points
6. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – 109 points
7. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 64 points
8. Alex Albon (Williams) – 54 points
9. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) - 37 points
10. Esteban Ocon (Haas) – 27 points
11. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – 26 points
12. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – 26 points
13. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) – 22 points
14. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – 20 points
15. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – 20 points
16. Carlos Sainz (Williams) – 16 points
17. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) – 14 points
18. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) – 10 points
19. Ollie Bearman (Haas) – 8 points
20. Franco Colapinto (Alpine) – 0 points
21. Jack Doohan (Alpine) – 0 points
F1 2025 mid-season awards: Best moment, worst race and biggest shock
11:30 , Kieran JacksonFourteen down, 10 to go. The 2025 F1 season is in full swing and it’s neck-and-neck at the top of the world championship.
After Lando Norris’ victory in Hungary following a thrilling finale, holding off a late charge from Oscar Piastri, the Australian’s lead in the drivers’ standings is now just nine points.
Away from the McLaren title fight, Ferrari are second in the constructors’ standings but have not won a race – with star signing Lewis Hamilton yet to secure a top-three finish – while Red Bull (twice) and Mercedes (once) have managed to finish on the top step of the podium.
And what about the rest of the pack? Williams have shown signs of improvement, while Sauber have made massive progress in the last few months, ahead of their entry as Audi in 2026.
F1 2025 mid-season awards: Best moment, worst race and biggest shock
QUALIFYING REPORT: Oscar Piastri edges Lando Norris to impressive Dutch Grand Prix pole position
11:00 , Kieran JacksonOscar Piastri beat title rival Lando Norris in a thrilling battle for pole position for the Dutch Grand Prix as McLaren again blew away the field at Zandvoort.
Norris has won three of the last four races to close within nine points of team-mate Piastri in the drivers’ championship with 10 rounds remaining.
But it was the Australian who came out on top in the qualifying scrap, delivering a sensational lap to beat Norris by just 0.012 seconds and claim his fifth pole of the season.
Full report below:
Oscar Piastri edges Lando Norris to impressive Dutch Grand Prix pole position
BREAKDOWN: Lewis Hamilton's qualifying form:
10:00 , Kieran JacksonThe doom and gloom was writ large on Lewis Hamilton’s face in the Budapest media pen last weekend. After a dozen or so races to forget in Ferrari red, the 40-year-old needs a reset.
Hamilton is yet to secure a podium in 14 rounds for his new outfit, with aspirations of competing for an eighth world championship dead in the water this year. As for 2026? Regardless of car performance, at this point, who knows?
But while we have seen glimpses of the seven-time world champion’s stardust on raceday in the last 18 months – not least his sumptuous victory at Silverstone a year ago – his performances on a Saturday, by his own admission, have been below-par.
Qualifying performances are, to a large degree, how you are judged when it comes to raw pace in Formula One. In the same machinery as your teammate, the quicker driver comes to the fore throughout the course of the season. It is in this department that Hamilton should be most concerned.
Now, The Independent breaks down the 40-year-old’s qualifying record, why it shows the issues did not just start at Ferrari and whether his downward spiral can be reversed.
The telling numbers behind Hamilton’s F1 demise – and it’s not all about Ferrari
Oscar Piastri, after claiming pole:
09:00 , Kieran Jackson“That was the definition of peaking at the right time. Super happy to come out with the result, all the points tomorrow, but to come out with that - I’m pretty stoked!
“You keep chipping way, nice thing about having so much practice. I just improved the parts where I already wasn’t bad, overall very happy.
“We’re both trying to beat each other every weekend, there’s a few variables to mix up, let’s see what happens tomorrow.”
FULL STARTING GRID
07:00 , Kieran Jackson1. Oscar Piastri
2. Lando Norris
3. Max Verstappen
4. Isack Hadjar
5. George Russell
6. Charles Leclerc
7. Lewis Hamilton
8. Liam Lawson
9. Carlos Sainz
10. Fernando Alonso
11. Kimi Antonelli
12. Yuki Tsunoda
13. Gabriel Bortoleto
14. Pierre Gasly
15. Alex Albon
16. Franco Colapinto
17. Nico Hulkenberg
18. Esteban Ocon
19. Ollie Bearman
20. Lance Stroll
George Russell, who starts P5:
06:00 , Kieran JacksonOn Hadjar being ahead in P4: “He did a great job, it’s been really tight all weekend between the majority of the field. Anywhere from P3 to P5 is where we are.
“It was very challenging, qualifying didn’t feel very smooth or comfortable. One small slide, the tyres overheat, and then you lose a few tenths. It wasn’t an amazing day but P5 is where we start the race tomorrow.
“Realistically, P3 is what we’re fighting for. It’ll come down to strategy as it’s very challenging to overtake around here.”
Lance Stroll walks away from high-speed crash as Lando Norris dominates Dutch GP practice
04:00 , Kieran JacksonAston Martin’s Lance Stroll walked away from a high-speed crash as Lando Norris delivered a commanding performance during Friday practice for the Dutch Grand Prix.
Canadian Stroll, who was forced to miss the Spanish Grand Prix after wrist surgery in June, carried huge speed into the banked turn three in the early stages of second practice but locked up and careered into the barriers.
There was extensive damage to his car but the 26-year-old was able to climb out and Aston Martin confirmed he was OK on his return to the garage.
Full FP2 report:
Stroll walks away from crash as Norris dominates Dutch GP practice
Sauber team principal Jonathan Wheatley:
03:00 , Kieran Jackson“The target is continuous improvement, it’s about that momentum and carrying it over into next year.
On Hulkenberg and Bortoleto: “The upgrades that they’ve been putting on the car means the drivers have more confidence. The culture is good and there’s an energy in the team.
“It’s incredibly strong, Nico’s experience and expertise, and Gabriel has been working from that. His work ethic is unbelievbale.”
On being Audi in 2026: “I’ve been in a high pressure role for over 20 years, we want to compete and over-perform.”
Ollie Bearman, who could only qualify P19:
Saturday 30 August 2025 22:00 , Kieran Jackson“The first run went really well and I had a good feeling in the car, it seemed like we were in a good window. On the second run we were on used tires and we still looked to be pretty decent, but then going onto new tires everyone else improved and I didn’t manage to make that improvement.
“I had a very different feeling underneath me compared to the previous set of tires, and there is a small change we made between the two runs, so we need to see if that was the cause of our issues or not. Our race pace has been okay, I’m not super hopeful, but we’ll see what we can do.”
Carlos Sainz, who qualified P9 for Williams:
Saturday 30 August 2025 21:00 , Kieran Jackson“Once the track temperatures went up, we lost performance from FP3 to Qualifying and I felt it straight away.
“We needed very solid laps to progress through the session and, whilst it’s slightly disappointing to not be higher up the order, we maximised what we could and P9 is a decent position to fight tomorrow.
“We’ll keep an eye on the weather and give our best during the race.”
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur:
Saturday 30 August 2025 20:00 , Kieran Jackson“Today we made a good recovery after yesterday when we were losing 6 to 7 tenths in two corners and struggling. But it meant we were having to come from too far back.
“We need to do a better job on Friday because looking to make a one second step up is too much in terms of set-up and too much for the drivers.At this track, it’s difficult to find the right balance and the correct approach for the tyres.
“The layout of the track with the corners from 7 to 10 puts a lot of load on the tyres and if you are over the limit you can lose a lot in the final part. It’s a bit frustrating as I feel P4 could have been possible, but Charles admitted he made a mistake at turn 10. Lewis has had a very good weekend so far but it’s the same story as Charles, in that we started from too far back from yesterday when we were not in the right set-up window.”
Kimi Antonelli after qualifying 11th:
Saturday 30 August 2025 19:00 , Kieran Jackson“I am disappointed after today's Qualifying. I missed out on Q3 by a small margin; on my final lap in Q2 I made a small mistake into the chicane and that proved the difference between getting through and being eliminated.
“We knew that we would have to execute well given how tight the field was; little mistakes would make a huge difference and so it proved. Losing track time in FP1 did not help with that as it cost me some learning that I could not use in Qualifying. I need to make sure I cut out these errors.
NEW: Verstappen to face no further action
Saturday 30 August 2025 17:46 , Kieran JacksonThe Dutchman was under investigation for his lap delta time in qualifying but has been cleared by the stewards.
Lewis Hamilton, who qualified P7:
Saturday 30 August 2025 16:22 , Kieran Jackson“It was OK, I was looking for progress, out of Q3 in last few races, that is progress. The package has been difficult and challenging. Charles is P1 last race to being six-tenths off. I’ve enjoyed the weekend more so far.
“From my side, I’ve made some adjustments to my approach, definitely been in a better place, the break helps, a lot calmer through this weekend.”
