The final Zandvoort Grand Prix could have been the perfect farewell. Instead, it became a weekend of contrasts: Norris controlled the race, Verstappen retired in front of his orange grandstands and team orders once again took over the headlines.
The podium — no debate
Norris turned pole position into a win with a three-stop strategy. Kimi Antonelli and George Russell completed the Mercedes double podium behind him, reshaping the championship picture.
Lap 47 locks it down
Norris made his third and final pit stop on lap 47, switching to fresh hard tyres. That was the move. Once back on track, the McLaren driver set the fastest lap in 1:14.321 and never let the race breathe again.
Verstappen’s farewell goes off the rails
For his final home Grand Prix, Max Verstappen had prepared a special helmet reading “Dankjewel Zandvoort”. The planned final ovation never came: a heavy crash ended his race, after three consecutive wins at this circuit between 2021 and 2023.
“For my last race here, I wanted to give the fans something special. It did not go as planned.” Max Verstappen · after his retirement
The decisions making noise
Hamilton loses the podium
Leclerc stayed out on Ferrari’s instructions while Hamilton closed in after his stop. The Briton finished fourth, 0.849 seconds behind Russell. The gap raises the question, but it is not enough on its own to prove a clear cause.
Russell and the order for Antonelli
Mercedes also managed its internal order during the race. Russell, Saturday’s Sprint winner, had to live with a team order in Antonelli’s favour. The paddock will be talking about this one for a while.
Russell moves ahead of Hamilton after the combined Sprint and Grand Prix points. Antonelli remains on top, while Norris’ win brings McLaren back into the fight.
Monday’s questions
Who won at Zandvoort?
Lando Norris won from pole position, ahead of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell.
Why did Verstappen retire?
The Red Bull driver retired after a heavy crash during his final Dutch home Grand Prix.
Is Hamilton still second in the championship?
No. George Russell now sits ahead of him after the Sprint and race points.
