Let’s take two minutes to summarize the just-finished Dutch Grand Prix. After Norris retired in the final stages due to a mechanical failure, the balance of the Drivers’ Championship seems to be tilting further towards his teammate Piastri. The gap between the two is now 34 points. For Norris, if he still wants to fight for the title, he will need to recover at least 4 points per race from Monza onwards.
While McLaren did not achieve the longest 1–2 finish streak in F1 history, Piastri became the first McLaren driver since Mika Häkkinen at the 1998 Monaco GP to secure a Grand Slam. Piastri’s pole conversion rate has now reached 80%, and with his ninth career victory, he has equaled his manager Mark Webber’s tally of race wins.
For Ferrari, the double DNF marked another disaster, reminiscent of the failure at this year’s Chinese GP. Although the collision between Leclerc and Russell in the middle stages was later downplayed by both drivers, Hamilton faced severe penalties for failing to sufficiently slow under double yellow flags during the formation lap. He will serve a 5-place grid drop in Monza and also lost 2 super license points, compounding Ferrari’s misery.
Verstappen impressed fans with a miraculous car save on the opening lap, even astonishing team boss Mekies, who admitted: “Even though we work with him every day, this save was unbelievable—we’re still wondering how he managed it, because the car was almost completely out of control.”
Meanwhile, Antonelli, Mercedes’ “young swordsman,” became a focus of media criticism after his clash with Leclerc. Many questioned Toto Wolff’s decision to promote him so early. However, Wolff reaffirmed Mercedes’ driver lineup for next year immediately after the race and defended Antonelli, pointing out that even Verstappen made similar mistakes early in his career. In the long run, Wolff stressed, this is part of Antonelli’s learning curve, and the team remains fully confident in his future.
For 20-year-old Frenchman Hadjar, starting P4 and finishing on the podium thanks to a mix of luck and strong long-run pace, this race was a career highlight. His result also delivered a rare podium for RB. Based on his current form, it seems almost inevitable that Hadjar will eventually be promoted to the senior Red Bull team.
Although the Dutch GP appeared to be a straightforward one-stop race on paper, repeated battles, safety car interruptions, and dramatic twists reshaped the rhythm. We may look back on this event as a decisive turning point in the 2025 Drivers’ Championship fight.
🛒 Shop Now & Choose your F1 Model！
