Lando Norris claimed his second consecutive Formula 1 victory with a hard-fought win at the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix, ending Zandvoort’s current run on the F1 calendar on a high.
Norris finished 11.536 seconds ahead of Kimi Antonelli, with Mercedes teammate George Russell taking third. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen’s hopes of winning his home race ended dramatically after he crashed out on the opening lap.
Verstappen’s home race ends early
Fresh from signing his Red Bull contract extension until 2030, Verstappen started his home race hoping to give the Dutch fans something to celebrate.
However, the four-time world champion lost control on the drying track shortly after the start, bringing out a red flag. It marked a disappointing end to a difficult weekend for Red Bull, with Verstappen admitting the team lacked the pace to challenge the front-runners.
Norris fights back for victory
Norris started from pole but lost the lead to Antonelli following the restart.
The McLaren driver remained patient before making his move on Lap 52, overtaking Antonelli around the outside at Turn 1. He then passed Lewis Hamilton on the same lap to take the lead.
A late Virtual Safety Car added another strategic twist. While Antonelli pitted for fresh tyres, Norris stayed out and had already built a gap large enough to control the race.
Russell held on to third despite pressure from Hamilton, while Charles Leclerc finished fifth ahead of Oscar Piastri.
2026 Dutch GP: Top 5
- Lando Norris
- Kimi Antonelli
- George Russell
- Lewis Hamilton
- Charles Leclerc
Championship picture
Antonelli extended his championship lead to 59 points over Russell, who is now tied on points with Hamilton. Norris’ back-to-back victories have moved him up to fourth in the standings, 24 points behind Russell and Hamilton.
Formula 1 now heads to Monza for the Italian Grand Prix from September 4-6.
Also read: https://fly-wheel.com/max-verstappen-extends-red-bull-contract-until-2030/
Final Take
Norris didn’t have the easiest race, but that arguably made this one of his strongest victories. He lost the lead, stayed patient, picked his moment and then controlled the race when it mattered.
For Verstappen, though, the final F1 race at Zandvoort was one to forget. After committing his future to Red Bull, his homecoming ended before the opening lap was complete.
