By Mark Gero
Zandvoort this year was a crucial Grand Prix in terms of the year more widely.
Following a most rewarding three-week summer break, the formula one grid continued their schedule with 10 rounds remaining this past weekend with a very classic course at the famous Zandvoort circuit in the Netherlands. Sand, wind and some rain would possibly greet the drivers, but what the race turned out to be was an extremely chaotic result for Lando Norris, who suffered an oil leak trying to pursue his title rival and teammate, Oscar Piastri, who went on to win and extend his point total over Norris by 34 points. Here is the wrap up of what happened this past week in the Netherlands….
Norris began the week by topping all two Friday practice sessions, with Piastri down to third. The real surprise was the driver in second, Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso. Rain was supposed to appear, but never came, as the front moved along the seaside but never struck the circuit. But this did not mean there were no events that made it a dull affair. The second Aston Martin of Lance Stroll went wide at turn three, known as the Hugenholtz corner, named after the designer of the circuit, and hit the barriers, putting out a red flag, which was the first of three that day, as Racing Bulls Isack Hadjar lost power and had to stop on the back of the circuit. Williams Alex Abon also went wide, this time at Tarzan and beached his car. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, driving on his home track, also beached his car at Tarzan, but did it in the morning session, right after time ran out.
Norris came into Saturday qualifying with a lot of confidence, but when it came down to what counted, it was Piastri, who recorded a 1:08:662 best time to take pole ahead of his teammate and series rival. Verstappen delighted the crowd as much as his car could and took third. Stroll continued his run of bad success and spun into the barriers at turn 13 and managed to return to the pits, but his mechanics could not fix his damage, and Stroll had to begin the race from 20th and last position.
If the weekend had a bit of excitement, the race itself was where it was. Right from the start, Norris lost his position to Verstappen for second, while Piastri went out in front. Norris at the end found his confidence and passed Verstappen and closed in on his teammate, but with less than a few laps to go, in which Norris could have caught Piastri, the Briton suffered an oil leak and had to retire from the race. Piastri went on for another victory and extended his lead to where Norris must hope for his teammate to have some misfortune to catch up and take his first championship.
Verstappen, who had difficulties catching the papaya pair all day, moved up to second, while Hadjar, who began the race in fourth, ended up in third, and became the youngest Frenchman at the age of 20 to stand on the podium. Double points for both Aston Martin and Haas, but a bad day for the two Ferraris as Lewis Hamilton found the Hugenholtz corner and crashed while Charles Leclerc collided with the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli near the same area.
Next will be a circuit where speed really will count and low downforce is at its best and this is at Monza in Italy, which will be the final race in Europe this season. It will be difficult to catch the McLaren pair at this venue, and after the hardship at Zandvoort for Ferrari, they will be on their home track, and this might give them some hope to remain second in the constructor’s championship.
WHEEL2WHEEL REPORTS 