SportyTV | Norris beats Antonelli to Zandvoort glory after early Verstappen crash

Lando Norris' mid-season charge for the Formula One world title continued after he stormed to back-to-back victories at Sunday's Dutch Grand Prix.

Having claimed his first win of the campaign in Hungary last time out, polesitter Norris crossed the line ahead of championship leader Kimi Antonelli.

Norris had lost the lead early on in the race to Antonelli after the race was stopped for an incident involving Max Verstappen, who spun his Red Bull out on the opening lap.

George Russell, who came under immense pressure from both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc late in the race, held on to claim the final podium place in Zandvoort.

Hamilton and Leclerc took fourth and fifth, while McLaren's Oscar Piastri crossed in sixth. Liam Lawson, racing for Red Bull in place of the injured Isack Hadjar, was next.

Nico Hulkenberg finished eighth, ahead of Fernando Alonso, who registered Aston Martin's first points of 2026. The Alpine of Pierre Gasly rounded out the top 10.

A second win in the Netherlands for Lando

Great work out there #McLarenF1 | #DutchGP pic.twitter.com/8O0Rb4RO6l
— McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team (@McLarenF1) August 23, 2026

An enthralling first lap started with Russell getting a slow start and allowing team-mate Antonelli to overtake him, but the race was stopped at the end of the first lap when Verstappen spun out at the final corner as he succumbed to the wet conditions.

Upon the resumption of action, Antonelli guided his Mercedes past Norris to take the lead of the race, while Piastri overtook Russell with an ambitious yet brilliant overtake.

Russell was forced to pit on lap 18 after coming under pressure from Leclerc and Hamilton, though he was able to quickly come out ahead of Piastri after the Australian endured a slow pitstop when coming in a lap later.

Piastri was then swallowed up on lap 34 by both Leclerc and Hamilton with sweeping overtakes around the outside of the McLaren, though the latter was frustrated at Ferrari for not getting the Monegasque out of the way sooner later in the race.

Following the final round of pitstops, Antonelli complained of no grip on the rear of his tyres and was overtaken by Norris, but a virtual safety car was brought out because of an incident involving Esteban Ocon, allowing several drivers a cheap stop to change tyres for the last 16 laps.

However, Norris was able to streak ahead of the chasing pack, taking the chequered flag almost 12 seconds ahead of Antonelli, while Russell was helped out by a late virtual safety car to finish third while under pressure from both Ferraris.

Norris goes back-to-back as Antonelli tightens his grip

Having not won a race since the Sao Paulo Grand Prix before winning in Hungary last time out, Norris has come out as a driver reborn following the summer break, but even an 83-point gap to make up to Antonelli still seems too much to make up.

But he will be hoping to put the young Italian under pressure in the weeks that remain, with this his 13th victory in F1. He is the 25th driver in history to record 13 or more victories in the sport, drawing level with Alberto Ascari and David Coulthard.

P1 #McLarenF1 | #DutchGP pic.twitter.com/HKWIjXiz6h
— McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team (@McLarenF1) August 23, 2026

It was also a positive day for Antonelli, who increased his lead at the top of the Drivers' Championship to 59 points over Russell and Hamilton, who are now level on points.

Antonelli (10) also surpassed Riccardo Patrese (nine in 1992) as the Italian driver with the most podiums in a single season in the history of the sport.

TOP 10

1. Lando Norris (McLaren)

2. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)

3. George Russell (Mercedes)

4. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)

5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

6. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

7. Liam Lawson (Red Bull)

8. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi)

9. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

10. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

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