Lando Norris beats Kimi Antonelli for final Dutch Grand Prix win

Lando Norris won the final Dutch Grand Prix for McLaren, finishing ahead of Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli after a strategic battle at Zandvoort. George Russell completed the podium, while Norris cut Antonelli’s championship advantage to 83 points with his second successive victory.

Antonelli moved from third on the original grid to lead after the race was restarted. Norris had started from pole, but the damper side of the track affected his launch. The race was then stopped at the end of the opening lap when Max Verstappen lost control of his Red Bull on a wet line at the final corner and hit the outside wall. Verstappen was unhurt, while Gabriel Bortoleto also spun but continued.

The restart came after the circuit had dried. Antonelli passed Norris for the lead, appearing to have control of the race. The two drivers made their first pit stops together on lap 21, but Hamilton stayed out and moved ahead temporarily. Antonelli stopped for a second time on lap 40, giving Norris the opportunity to extend his own stint by seven laps.

Norris returned to the track 4.8 seconds behind Antonelli and soon joined the Mercedes and Hamilton in a three-car fight. He passed Hamilton around the outside at the banked Tarzan corner after Antonelli’s attempted move created an opening. Hamilton then made an error at Turn 10, allowing Norris to overtake him before the following chicane and take command of the race.

A late virtual safety car tested McLaren’s decision to keep Norris on track while most of the cars behind him stopped for tyres. Antonelli passed Hamilton and took fresh rubber, while Russell stayed out. Mercedes instructed Russell to give second place to Antonelli, and the British driver later had to defend third from Hamilton. A second virtual safety car helped Russell retain the final podium position.

The result leaves Antonelli 59 points clear of Russell, with the gap unchanged from before the weekend. Russell and Hamilton have equal points, although Russell is classified higher after recording two wins to Hamilton’s one. Norris is now 83 points behind Antonelli, while Fernando Alonso’s ninth place gave Aston Martin-Honda its first points since Monaco.