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Victor Petkov
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Oscar Piastri adds huge points in title battle after Zandvoort win
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Lando Norris retired with few laps to go with mechanical failure and is now 34 points behind

Oscar Piastri delivered a flawless performance at Zandvoort to secure victory in the Dutch Grand Prix, leading from pole to the chequered flag. The Australian kept Max Verstappen at bay throughout the race, while 20-year-old Isaac Hajar produced a stunning drive to clinch his maiden Formula 1 podium with RB.

The race ended in heartbreak for Lando Norris, who had been in the thick of the title fight but was forced to retire on lap 65 with a mechanical failure in his McLaren.

Ferrari endured an equally disastrous afternoon, with both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton failing to see the finish.

At the start, Piastri held firm in first, while Verstappen muscled past Norris and Leclerc jumped ahead of George Russell. Norris quickly regrouped, however, and on lap nine swept past Verstappen around the outside of Turn 1 to reclaim second. Behind them, Hajar impressed with resolute defense to fend off Leclerc’s attacks and hold fourth.

The drama intensified mid-race. Leclerc pitted on lap 22, but moments later Hamilton slid off at Turn 3, forcing the first safety car period. Most of the field seized the chance to stop, but Ferrari’s afternoon unraveled further on lap 53 when Leclerc was eliminated in a collision with Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The Mercedes rookie was handed a 10-second penalty for his role in the incident.

A second safety car followed, prompting another round of pit stops. Piastri and Norris opted for hard tyres, while Verstappen gambled on softs in a late push for victory. But the Dutchman could not mount a serious challenge, and the race took a dramatic twist instead when Norris’ car gave up with just six laps to go, handing third place to the delighted Hajar.