The title race between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris has reached a rather surprising tipping point. The British driver has just retired from the Dutch Grand Prix. During the 65th lap, after having kept Piastri honest all the way through, Norris reported a strange message over the radio, claiming to smell smoke.
Moments later the cameras revealed the reason: Smoke was pouring out the back of his otherwise dominant MCL39.
Norris DNF's from Dutch Grand Prix
Moments after, as Norris made his way through corners 7, 8 and 9, his
McLaren car slowed, an ominous signal of what was to come.
Instants later, he parked his car to the side of the road, got out, and in a rather disheartening picture, he sat on a slope by the side of the road, head down, arms over his knees.
The title fight just got a whole lot harder for the British driver as 34 points now separate him from his teammate.