Every other host story this season is about getting in, staying in, or being kept in. Zandvoort is the only one about choosing to leave. Fully privately funded — no government backing, one of just two races (with Silverstone) in that position — the promoter needs every one of three days to sell out (>100,000 a day, ~€70m budget) merely to break even: *"you earn your money on the last 10,000 tickets."* With interest softening and costs rising, it declined a multi-year deal and ended the race on purpose, at the top. On track, Norris won a second consecutive race.

Rain before the start left the track damp; the field lined up on dry tyres and a standing start followed a safety-car formation lap. End of lap 1: Verstappen lost control on the damp inside of the banked final corner, hit the barrier heavily (unhurt, later accepting responsibility) and brought out a red flag. Standing restart (lap 5): Antonelli passed Norris at Tarzan to take the lead, while Piastri took P3 from Russell. The second stop phase decided it: Mercedes pitted Antonelli early, but Norris extended his middle stint to lap 48 — seven laps longer — then used fresher hards to close. On lap 54 he passed Antonelli around the outside into turn 1, and later that lap Hamilton ran wide at turn 10, letting Norris complete the move for the lead. Mercedes ordered Russell to yield second to Antonelli on lap 65 so the Italian could chase (Russell complied and accepted it afterwards), but Antonelli's softs faded. A late Williams teammates' collision (Sainz/Albon) brought a VSC on lap 70 that ended the chase; Norris won by 11.536s.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli leads the Drivers' Championship on 242 (59 pts clear of George Russell). Top three: Antonelli 242, George Russell 183, Lewis Hamilton 183. Constructors: Mercedes 425 ahead of Ferrari 338. Verified · source: Jolpica standings after Round 12.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli leads the Drivers' Championship on 242 (59 pts clear of George Russell). Top three: Andrea Kimi Antonelli 242, George Russell 183, Lewis Hamilton 183. Constructors: Mercedes 425 ahead of Ferrari 338. Verified · source: Jolpica standings after Round 12.