08/23/26 10:37:00
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08/23 10:36 CDT Lando Norris wins F1's Dutch Grand Prix after battle with Kimi
Antonelli
Lando Norris wins F1's Dutch Grand Prix after battle with Kimi Antonelli
By JAMES ELLINGWORTH
AP Sports Writer
ZANDVOORT, Netherlands (AP) --- McLaren's Lando Norris passed Kimi Antonelli
and Lewis Hamilton in the space of a single lap before holding on to win the
Dutch Grand Prix for back-to-back Formula 1 victories Sunday.
Norris started on pole but was overtaken by Antonelli's Mercedes at a restart
after the race was stopped for a heavy crash by home hero Max Verstappen, who
was unhurt, shortly after the start.
Norris reeled in Antonelli before passing him around the outside of the first
corner in a daring move on lap 54 of 72, then took the lead from Ferrari's
Hamilton before the lap was over.
The defending champion held on with old tires to take the win. "This fight is
still on," he said over team radio.
"The move (to pass Antonelli) was good. I knew I was not going to get many
chances. Every lap I spent behind him my chances got lower and lower," Norris
said. "Well played from my part...I probably had one chance."
Antonelli was second after his Mercedes teammate George Russell was ordered to
move out of his way, following a failed gamble on a tire change by Antonelli.
Russell clung on to finish third ahead of Hamilton.
Antonelli and Russell question Mercedes strategy
There was tension at Mercedes as both Antonelli and Russell criticized the
team's decisions over the radio.
Antonelli called his team's strategy "too risky" when the team congratulated
him on second place, while Russell earlier seemed to object to being asked to
give way to his teammate.
"Is he fighting for the win? Or is he planning to catch Norris?" Russell
questioned, at a point where Norris was far ahead of both.
Russell relented after the race and said he felt Mercedes had made the right
decision to avoid the two battling for position as Hamilton closed in behind.
Antonelli "would have overtaken anyway so it was the right decision," Russell
said. "It's been a strong weekend overall so I'll take the positives."
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