Norris retires as Piastri wins chaotic Dutch GP

Lando Norris retired from second place with an apparent engine failure as McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri took a controlled victory in an incident-strewn Dutch Grand Prix.

Norris was on course for a comfortable second place after Piastri had dominated the race only for his car to stop in a cloud of smoke with seven laps to go.

The dramatic turn of events at the end of a chaotic race featuring three safety cars and multiple crashes and incidents could be decisive in the private title fight between Piastri and Norris.

The Australian's seventh victory in 13 races this season, in which Piastri has been the model of coolness and consistency, extends his championship lead to 34 points.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen inherited second place, and Norris' retirement elevated Frenchman Isack Hadjar to an outstanding first career podium finish.

The key stories from a race full of drama were:

Norris sat on the dunes beside the seaside Zandvoort circuit, helmet on, with his head in his hands after climbing out of his stricken McLaren, as he digested the ramifications of his retirement.

The Briton had been poised for second place behind Piastri, who had controlled the race consummately from pole position throughout a series of incidents, including briefly threatening rain.

That in itself would have been a blow to Norris, who had arrived in the Netherlands after winning three of the past four races.

But his second retirement of the year - following Norris crashing out of the Canadian Grand Prix in June after hitting the back of his team-mate's car - has dealt a body blow to his hopes.

A 34-point lead is well over one clear victory, and it will be hard work for Norris to claw back that lead on a man who has led the championship since the fifth race of the season in Saudi Arabia and is the model of solidity.