Dutch Grand Prix result: Oscar Piastri wins as Lando Norris retires at Zandvoort

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.