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Piastri claimed a historic Grand Slam at the Dutch Grand Prix, becoming the first Australian since Jack Brabham in 1966 to do so and extending his lead in the Drivers Championship.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was victorius at the Dutch GP (X)
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri delivered a commanding performance at the Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday, cruising to victory while etching his name into Formula One history books.
The 23-year-old Australian not only secured his seventh win in 15 races this season but also became the first Australian in nearly 60 years to achieve a coveted Formula One Grand Slam — an honor last claimed by Jack Brabham in 1966.
What is a Grand Slam?
In F1, a Grand Slam — sometimes called a “Grand Chelem” — is one of the rarest feats. To achieve it, a driver must:
- Start from pole position
- Lead every lap of the race
- Set the fastest lap
- Win the Grand Prix
Piastri did just that. He took pole on Saturday, led from the first lap to the last, set the fastest lap, and crossed the finish line in complete control.
It was also the first Grand Slam by a McLaren driver since Mika Hakkinen at the 1998 Monaco Grand Prix, further highlighting the rarity of the accomplishment.
Norris’ Misfortune, Piastri’s Triumph
Piastri’s closest title rival and teammate, Lando Norris, suffered heartbreak late in the race when his McLaren began smoking, forcing him into retirement. That misfortune left Piastri unchallenged at the front, where he displayed composure and control throughout the 72-lap contest.
“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,” Piastri reflected.
“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. A couple of safety cars spiced it up a little bit, and we weathered it all.”
With his latest win, Piastri now sits 34 points clear at the top of the Drivers’ Championship. That margin means he could finish second in the next four races — even if Norris were to win them all — and still maintain his lead with five rounds remaining.
(with Reuters inputs)
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term…Read More
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term… Read More
Read More
