Zandvoort, September 1, 2025 – Oscar Piastri clinched a commanding victory at the Heineken Dutch Grand Prix, extending his Formula 1 World Championship lead and underlining McLaren’s dominant form. The Australian controlled the race from pole position, surviving multiple Safety Car restarts to secure his third win of the season.

Home hero Max Verstappen finished second for Red Bull, while rookie sensation Isack Hadjar claimed his maiden Formula 1 podium in third place, delivering a breakthrough result for the Racing Bulls team.

Piastri: “Felt in control the whole race”

Reflecting on his win, Piastri said:
“It feels good, obviously. I controlled the race when I needed to. It was unfortunate for Lando [Norris] at the end, but I felt like I was in control of that one and just used the pace when I needed to. Very proud of the whole team. Without them, none of this is possible.”

Piastri admitted qualifying was the turning point of his weekend, noting improvements since last year’s struggles at Zandvoort. With the victory, he now holds a 34-point lead over Norris in the drivers’ championship, though he insisted there is “still a long way to go.”

Verstappen: “No pace to fight McLaren”

Verstappen thrilled the Dutch crowd with an aggressive start, attempting moves on both McLarens. A wild slide through Turn 2 almost ended his charge, but he recovered to secure second place.

“It wasn’t easy. I gave it everything at the start but after that, we just had to do our own race. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the pace of the McLarens. Still, to be on the podium here is a great result,” Verstappen said.

The reigning champion admitted Red Bull continues to struggle with tyre behaviour over long runs compared to McLaren, making defensive driving his priority for much of the race.

Hadjar: “Unreal feeling to stand on the podium”

For 20-year-old Isack Hadjar, the race marked a career-defining moment as he delivered his first-ever F1 podium.

“It feels a bit unreal. The car was on rails the whole weekend. I made no mistakes and brought home the podium. That was always the target since I was a kid – my first step, hopefully with many more to come,” Hadjar said.

The French rookie credited his parents and Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko for shaping his career path, adding that his result gives him confidence ahead of Racing Bulls’ home race at Monza.

Championship Outlook

With Piastri’s victory, McLaren strengthened its grip on both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships. Verstappen’s podium keeps him in contention, while Hadjar’s breakthrough result adds momentum for Racing Bulls.

As the championship moves to Monza next weekend, all eyes will be on whether McLaren can extend its dominance, or if Ferrari and Red Bull can respond at their respective home races.

Text and Picture Courtesy: www.fia.com