Oscar Piastri won the Dutch Grand Prix from pole with a composed, dominant drive that he maintained through turn one, light rain and multiple safety-car restarts. Lando Norris retired from second on lap 65 when his engine smoked from what he said was an oil leak, forcing him to stop and sit dejected on the dunes. Lewis Hamilton crashed out early after an uncharacteristic error, and Charles Leclerc's race ended when he clipped wheels with Kimi Antonelli at turn three, sending Leclerc into the barriers. Max Verstappen finished second, Isack Hadjar earned a first podium in third, George Russell was fourth and Alex Albon fifth, leaving Piastri heading into the title run-in on the front foot.
Piastri's win was as assured as any he has made this season and really did not look in doubt from the moment he had held his lead through turn one at the start of the race. Composed out front through a brief period of light rain and three safety car restarts, Norris put pressure on him but with the cars so evenly matched could never really threaten as Piastri took another vital win.
Second place, however, had looked safe for the British driver until Norris experienced the most damnable luck. On lap 65 he suddenly slowed as smoke poured from his engine as it failed because of what he said was an oil leak, an extremely rare failure in the modern era. He pulled over, climbed out and moved, dejected, to sit alone on the dunes, helmet on and head bowed sitting disconsolate as his hopes fell to pieces through no fault of his own.
The race was also marked by a remarkably uncharacteristic, apparently unforced, error from Lewis Hamilton which led to the seven-time champion crashing out early in the race, his hope for a fresh start in this second half of season at Ferrari ending in bitter disappointment. Max Verstappen took second for Red Bull, Isack Hadjar was third for Racing Bulls, his first podium and a superb result in his rookie season.
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