The McLaren teammate duo has taken over the Formula 1 races of 2025 as the ½ of the “Papaya Brothers”, Oscar Piastri, has won the F1 Dutch Grand Prix last August 31, Sunday.
McLaren Duo Take Early Control
From the start, McLaren stamped their authority on the race. Piastri launched cleanly from pole, while Verstappen briefly edged ahead of Norris into Turn 1.
Photo Credits: F1 Racing
The Briton swiftly countered, reclaiming second place to secure a McLaren 1–2 after just a handful of corners. The papaya pair quickly built a gap, leaving Verstappen with no answers as the laps ticked by.
For much of the first stint, Norris pressed hard to reduce Piastri’s advantage. Though the gap ebbed and flowed, the two orange cars looked comfortable at the front, setting the stage for what appeared to be a dominant afternoon for the Woking squad.
Safety Cars Disrupt Momentum
The race complexion shifted dramatically on Lap 23 when Lewis Hamilton lost control at Turn 7 and hit the barriers, prompting the first Safety Car.
McLaren reacted decisively, opting for a double-stack pit stop. Piastri’s service went smoothly, while Norris suffered a slight delay behind his teammate but retained track position ahead of Verstappen.
Racing resumed with McLaren still firmly in command, but another major incident soon followed. Charles Leclerc tangled with rookie Kimi Antonelli in the banked Turn 3, sending the Ferrari hard into the wall. With Leclerc out and Antonelli crawling back to the pits with damage, a second Safety Car was deployed. Again, Piastri and Norris held their ground when the action restarted, fending off Verstappen’s advances to re-establish their authority at the front.
Norris’ Sudden Retirement Allows Piastri to Capitalize
Photo Credits: F1 Racing
As the race entered its final stages, disaster struck McLaren. Smoke began pouring from Norris’ MCL39 with just a handful of laps remaining, forcing the Briton to pull off the track and retire. His heartbreak ended what had looked like another assured double podium for the team and left Piastri as the lone representative up front.
When the final Safety Car peeled away, Piastri managed the restart expertly, keeping Verstappen at bay and controlling the pace through to the chequered flag. He crossed the line 1.2 seconds clear of the Dutchman to claim maximum points and extend his championship lead.
Reflecting afterward, Piastri admitted the victory was bittersweet. “I controlled the race when I needed to,” he said. “Obviously incredibly unfortunate for Lando at the end, but I felt like I was in control.”
Hadjar Shines, Midfield Delivers Surprises
Behind the front two, rookie Isack Hadjar produced the performance of his career so far, converting fourth on the grid into a memorable third-place finish.
The French-Algerian driver held his nerve through multiple restarts and defended strongly against more experienced rivals, securing his first-ever Formula 1 podium.
George Russell delivered another solid drive for Mercedes to finish fourth, just missing out on the podium, while Alex Albon staged one of the standout performances of the day. Starting 15th, the Thai driver carved through the field with precision to finish an impressive fifth.
Photo Credits: F1 Racing
Haas rookie Ollie Bearman also turned heads, recovering from a pit-lane start to take sixth, his best result to date. The Aston Martin pair of Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso followed in seventh and eighth, respectively, with Yuki Tsunoda salvaging ninth for Red Bull and Esteban Ocon completing the top 10 for Alpine.
Ferrari’s Misery, Mercedes Gains Ground
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Ferrari endured a nightmare weekend. Leclerc’s race ended in the barriers after contact with Antonelli, while Carlos Sainz failed to feature in the points following a penalty-laden afternoon.
Hamilton’s earlier crash compounded Mercedes’ frustrations, though Russell’s fourth-place finish at least salvaged a strong haul for the Silver Arrows.
The results leave Ferrari vulnerable in the Constructors’ standings, as Mercedes closed the gap to just 12 points. Haas also celebrated a strong result with Bearman’s sixth place, reinforcing their improved form this season.
For McLaren, the outcome was bittersweet. While Piastri’s victory pushed him 34 points clear of Norris in the drivers’ standings, Norris’ retirement highlighted the fine margins of a title fight that has swung dramatically over recent weeks.
“Very Satisfied to Come Out on Top.” – Oscar Piastri
“It feels good obviously,” said Oscar Piastri.
Photo Credits: F1 Racing
“I feel like it’s a pretty hard act to follow Isack standing up here so I’ll try my best. I controlled the race when I needed to and obviously incredibly unfortunate for Lando at the end, but I felt like I was in control of that one and just used the pace when I needed to. It was a bit of a different race to 12 months ago, so [I’m] very happy with all the work we’ve done to try and improve around here. Very satisfied to come out on top.”
Up Next: Italian Grand Prix at Monza
The Dutch Grand Prix added yet another twist to a thrilling 2025 championship campaign.
Photo Credits: F1 Racing
Piastri’s win marked his seventh of the year, while Verstappen’s home podium kept his faint hopes alive. For Hadjar, his breakthrough top-three finish confirmed his rapid development and hinted at even bigger results to come.
Attention now turns to the Italian Grand Prix at Monza on September 7, where Piastri will aim to extend his lead further and Norris will look to rebound from his Dutch disappointment. With Ferrari eager to bounce back in front of the Tifosi and Mercedes riding momentum, the stage is set for another dramatic chapter in a season defined by unpredictability.
