McLaren's driver, Piastri, remains uneasy with his substantial 34-point gap in the standings.
Oscar Piastri Claims Historic Dutch Grand Prix Victory, Extending Championship Lead
Oscar Piastri, the Australian Formula One driver, made history at the Dutch Grand Prix held at Zandvoort, Netherlands, by achieving a 'grand slam' – starting from pole, setting the fastest lap, and leading every lap to the chequered flag. This victory marked Piastri's ninth win in Formula One, matching the career count of Mark Webber.
Piastri's dominance was unquestionable as he controlled the race, using his pace effectively when needed. His closest title rival, Lando Norris, suffered a retirement from the Dutch Grand Prix due to a smoking car, which allowed Piastri to increase his lead in the Formula One championship to 34 points.
Speaking after the race, Piastri expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating, "I controlled the race when I needed to, and obviously it was 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."
The start of the weekend looked difficult for Piastri, but he managed to improve in qualifying, securing the pole position. He was pleased with his pace during the race, saying, "The start of this weekend was looking like a difficult one, and I managed to get it together in qualifying. I was happy with the pace I had today. Very, very happy."
Piastri does not feel comfortable with his current 34-point lead in the championship and intends to keep pushing and trying to win races. If Piastri finishes second in the next four races and Norris wins them all, Piastri can still retain the overall lead.
Max Verstappen, the current leader in the number of Formula One races won this season, recently added another victory to his tally with his win at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, marking his 66th career F1 win. The Dutch Grand Prix was not without its share of excitement, with a few safety cars adding to the thrill.
Norris, who has won five times and been on 12 podiums in Formula One, will be aiming to bounce back strongly in the upcoming races. Piastri, however, will be looking to consolidate his position at the top of the standings and continue his impressive form.
