Lando Norris produced a fantastic drive to beat Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli and win the Dutch Grand Prix for McLaren after a chaotic race marked by a first-lap crash, changing weather conditions and late team-orders controversy.
The race began dramatically when Max Verstappen crashed his Red Bull at high speed on the damp track at the end of the opening lap, triggering a red flag.
Antonelli had moved up from third on the initial grid to second, passing George Russell at the first start to slot in behind pole-sitter Norris. The defending world champion Norris was slowed by the damper conditions on the inside of the grid following a shower of rain.
ALSO READ | F1 | Max To Mercedes Up In Smoke! Verstappen Extends Contract With Red Bull Till 2030
Verstappen then suffered a huge accident after running too low through the flat-out final corner. His inside wheels caught the wet painted line, causing him to lose the rear before hitting the outside wall nose-first.
The Dutchman was unhurt and climbed out of the car without any problems. Behind him, Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto also lost control and spun, but managed to remain on the track and continue.
With the circuit drying after a period of sunshine, Antonelli got the jump on Norris at the restart to take the lead.
The two made their first pit stops together on lap 21 and resumed behind Lewis Hamilton, who delayed his own stop by another four laps. In the second stint, Norris began closing in on Antonelli and had reduced the gap to within two seconds when the Mercedes driver made his second stop on lap 40.
McLaren waited another seven laps before bringing Norris in. He rejoined only 4.8 seconds behind Antonelli, giving him a tyre advantage as the race entered its closing stages.
ONE FINAL WINNER. LANDO NORRIS ????#DutchGP #F1 #TheFinalLap pic.twitter.com/mcfuHuxzrC
— Dutch Grand Prix (@f1dutchgp) August 23, 2026
The pair soon caught Hamilton, with all three running nose to tail by lap 52. Two laps later, Antonelli attempted to pass Hamilton but could not make the move stick. The attempt, however, created an opportunity for Norris, who swept around the outside of the Mercedes at the banked Tarzan corner.
Hamilton then made an error through Turn 10, allowing Norris to get a run on the Ferrari and pass him on the outside into the following chicane to take the lead.
A late virtual safety car then brought controversy at Mercedes as Russell was ordered to let Antonelli through into second place. Russell had initially resisted the call, concerned that giving up the position could leave him vulnerable to Hamilton.
ALSO READ | How Formula E Is Shaping Valvoline's India Playbook
Another VSC later in the race, however, gave Russell enough breathing room to hold off Hamilton and secure the final podium place.
Fernando Alonso also delivered an impressive drive, finishing ninth from 18th on the grid after executing a one-stop strategy to earn Aston Martin-Honda their first points since Monaco.
Essential Business Intelligence, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice, Daily Fuel, Gold and Silver Prices and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.
