Lando Norris wins Dutch Grand Prix as Max Verstappen crashes at Zandvoort

Michelle Foster 23 Aug 2026 4:15 PM

Lando Norris raises his finger in celebration

ZANDVOORT – Lando Norris fought back against the Mercedes driver to win the Dutch Grand Prix, a race that was red-flagged after the opening lap when Max Verstappen crashed heavily at his home race.

Norris claimed the win by 11.5 seconds ahead of Kimi Antonelli, with George Russell in third place.

Lando Norris beats the Mercedes teammates at Zandvoort

Mother Nature brought the drama in the build-up to the Grand Prix as the rain came down. Race Control announced that the drivers “will do one lap behind the Safety Car before assembling for a standing start”.

Lando Norris made a flying start from pole position to lead ahead of Kimi Antonelli, who got the jump on George Russell, and Charles Leclerc. Leclerc was fourth ahead of Oscar Piastri and Lewis Hamilton, who had a bit of contact with Verstappen. The Red Bull driver also rubbed wheels with Liam Lawson as they fought for position.

Red flag! Verstappen is out!

Verstappen got on the inside kerb at Turn 14 and speared straight into the concrete wall on the outside of the track, destroying the left side of his Red Bull RB22. “Ah, that’s it. Ah, *Beep*! Sorry.”

Behind him, Gabriel Bortoleto went spinning in the Audi but reported that his car was okay as the field filed into the pit lane to await the resumption.

Arvid Lindblad and Franco Colapinto were under investigation for allegedly overtaking rivals under the yellow flags at Turn 14. Lindblad was given a drive through penalty, as was Colapinto.

The field ventured out of the pit lane for a standing restart but there was yet more drama with the drivers at the back of the field shown a red light as they prepared to leave the pit lane.

Oliver Bearman then came to a halt on his way to the grid due to an engine issue, leading to another formation lap.

Norris again made a decent start at the second time of asking and squeezed Antonelli towards the wall. But the championship leader had the inside line into Turn 1 and pulled ahead of Norris.

Piastri stormed into third place ahead of Russell, who was under attack from Leclerc and Hamilton. Lawson was seventh in the Red Bull.

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McLaren warned its driver that there could be rain in the coming minutes as Norris chased Antonelli for the lead, with the two drivers dropping Piastri. Lindblad and Colapinto served their drive-through penalties and dropped to the back of the field.

Race Control reported that Bortoleto and Bearman would be investigated after the race for exiting the pit lane under a red light.

Antonelli pulled 1.8 seconds clear of Norris, who in turn was five ahead of Piastri. The Australian, though, was running the more durable hard tyres. Norris reported that his pace was “zero” as he ran the soft tyres.

Behind them, Russell was under threat from Leclerc and Hamilton and told Mercedes he wanted “Plan A”. The Briton pulled into the pits, the first of the frontrunners to stop, and came out behind Pierre Gasly. He needed a few corners to pass the Alpine. Piastri pitted on the next lap, but it was a slow stop, and he came out behind Russell.

Antonelli pitted from the lead on Lap 22, followed in by Norris. It was another sluggish stop for McLaren. Leclerc and Lawson also stopped.

That elevated Hamilton into the lead, and he was happy with his tyres, eight seconds ahead of Antonelli, who was chased by Norris, Russell, Piastri and Leclerc. Hamilton pitted on Lap 26 and came out behind Leclerc, but with his tyres several laps fresher than his main rivals.

In the battle for the final points-paying positions, Carlos Sainz, Lindblad, Gasly, Nico Hulkenberg and Tsunoda ran nose-to-tail, sometimes two or three wide. Hulkenberg passed three cars in three corners!

Leclerc swept around the outside of Piastri, making the move stick though Turn 3 on Lap 34. Hamilton had a look but Piastri closed the door. Hamilton made a late lunge into Turn 1 on the next lap, and while Piastri tried to again close the door, Hamilton snuck through. Hamilton called Piastri’s attempted block “quite dangerous”.

Antonelli continued to lead the Grand Prix ahead of Norris, but the reigning world champion was keeping him honest as the gap ranged from tenths to 1.5s. The two dropped Russell by nine seconds, who was being chased down by the Ferrari teammates.

Antonelli and Russell both pitted on Lap 41, handing the lead to Norris with Leclerc and Hamilton second and third. Antonelli came up behind Hulkenberg, a backmarker, but the Audi was quickly out of the way.

Hamilton meanwhile told Ferrari: “I’m quicker than Charles, my tyres are better.” Leclerc was told to pit but stayed out. “We’re just losing time,” decried Hamilton. Leclerc pitted on the next lap, Lap 44, with Hamilton up into second.

Hamilton was up into the lead on tyres that were 22-laps old but only by 2.2s ahead of Antonelli after the Italian and Norris pitted. Russell was running in fourth place ahead of Leclerc, Piastri and Lawson. As Antonelli chased down Hamilton, the Briton and Ferrari debated his tyre choice for his next stop with Hamilton not agreeing with Ferrari.

With 20 to go, Norris was all over the back of Antonelli, who was struggling on the hard Pirelli tyres. As they closed in on Hamilton, Norris snatched his opportunity around the outside of Antonelli as the Mercedes driver tried to find a way around Hamilton. He made short work of Hamilton two corners later, with Antonelli also passing the Ferrari.

VSC! Esteban Ocon stopped on the side of the track bringing out the VSC. Hamilton took advantage and pitted amidst some complaint as he asked if Ferrari was using him as a “guinea pig”. Leclerc pitted immediately after, with Piastri also stopping. Antonelli also stopped and came out ahead of the Ferraris. Russell was the only one of the top six not to pit.

With 15 to go, Norris was leading by seven second ahead of Russell, with Antonelli, Hamilton, Leclerc and Piastri next in line. Behind them, Lawson and Hulkenberg looked comfortable in seventh and eighth, while Fernando Alonso was holding down ninth ahead of Pierre Gasly.

Norris dropped Russell lap after lap, with Russell moving aside for Antonelli who was on fresher soft tyres as Mercedes tried to chase down Norris. Antonelli, though, was 11 seconds down.

Hamilton, meanwhile, chased down Russell for the final podium position. His former teammate blocked him, with their battle neutralised due to debris on the track. Lawson was given a 10-second penalty for a yellow flag infringement.

Norris claimed the win by 11.5 second ahead of Antonelli with Russell holding onto third place.

Hamilton was fourth ahead of Leclerc, Piastri, Lawson, Hulkenberg, Alonso and Gasly who completed the points.

Dutch Grand Prix result

1 Lando Norris McLaren – winner
2 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +11.5
3 George Russell Mercedes +15.9
4 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +16.7
5 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +17.2
6 Oscar Piastri McLaren +32.3
7 Liam Lawson Red Bull +79.9
8 Nico Hulkenberg Audi +1 lap
9 Fernando Alonso +1 lap
10 Pierre Gasly +1 lap

The full results from the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort

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