24 August 2026 13:30 (UTC)
Royal recognition, a signed stash, and another race win: Behind the scenes in Zandvoort
Allow us to take you behind the scenes of the Dutch Grand Prix and deep into the paddock, with our regular post-race wrap-up. Covering all the action you might have missed, we'll explore everything from the outfits that caught our attention to the strongest snaps and the standout quotes.
This weekend proved to be a fitting farewell to a historic track that has treated us well over the past three years, with back-to-back-to-back wins in the Netherlands. Lando picked up where he left off before the summer shutdown, winning his second Grand Prix in succession, with Oscar – who won last year’s race here – also earning valuable points in P6.
From special guests in the garage to some iconic items of clothing, here is a look back at another memorable time in the Netherlands…
Oscar’s latest Qualifying performance took him into the record books. Of the 82 Qualifying sessions he has driven in, OP81 has reached Q3 in 74 of them.
That’s a remarkably consistent hit rate of 90.24%, the highest in Formula 1 history.
The only thing better than a McLaren-themed denim jacket? A McLaren-themed denim jacket signed by Oscar and Lando, of course.
This eager supporter arrived nice and early for Friday’s fan forum to secure a spot at the front of the crowd as our drivers took to the stage.
With a little help from admin, we were able to add a little stardust to an item already treasured by its owner. If this isn’t taking pride of place in the wardrobe this week – or even getting framed on the wall – we will be very surprised.
We might have to split the honours this weekend, however, as this custom-made McLaren cap also left us in awe of the Papaya Family's dedication.
Two months in the making and truly worth the wait. Like the jacket, this special piece has also been embellished with a valuable signature, this one from Team Principal Andrea Stella.
Lando hit the bullseye on the track, and the garage was visited by a man who knows a thing or two about doing just that.
Three-time PDC darts World Champion Michael van Gerwen was among those soaking up the action as his native country hosted its final Grand Prix for the foreseeable future.
Van Gerwen has made iconic White Stripes anthem Seven Nation Army his own in recent years, but we think there’s someone in papaya who could share it with him:
Picture the scene in Monza in a fortnight’s time. “Oooohhhh, Oscar Piastri…”.
Lando received royal recognition on the podium as King Willem-Alexander handed him his latest race victory trophy. The 59-year-old monarch has reigned in the Netherlands since 2013, while we have ruled Zandvoort since 2024, with three wins from the last three years. We’ll miss this place.
Lando had to pick his moment to strike, and he chose the notorious Tarzan corner during Lap 54.
The British driver was made to work for his win from Pole. After a strong getaway, he held onto first at lights out, but then fell to second behind Kimi Antonelli following a Safety Car restart.
Resisting the urge to react too quickly, Lando bided his time and saw his patience pay off towards the end of the race. Having closed in on Antonelli, he made the decisive move around the outside of the Mercedes man on Turn 1, taking the net lead of the race. He quickly followed this up by passing Lewis Hamilton – who would almost certainly have needed to pit again - for first place, which he would never relinquish.
It was a clutch moment from the World Champion, who said: “I knew I had to make it. I probably had one chance to really make it happen, and I made the most of it.”
“When we have these tyres that don't have as much grip, this is when Lando expresses his best talent, compared to other drivers.”
Team Principal Andrea Stella was full of praise for Lando after he conquered tricky conditions to go back-to-back. While the conditions in Zandvoort suited his style in particular, it was yet another top-drawer drive from the grid’s form man.
With 101 points from the last six rounds, Lando has taken six points more than anyone else since the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. It’s been an impressive stint from the reigning World Champion, who is certainly putting in performances worthy of the Number 1 on the front of his MCL40.
We are now back in full swing following the summer shutdown and stay in Europe with the historic Italian Grand Prix next up at Monza between 4 and 6 September.
Both Lando and Oscar finished on the podium there last year, in P2 and P3 respectively, and will travel with confidence after another strong weekend for the team.
