Why the DUTCH GP was so CHAOTIC!

I filmed and wrote about the chaos that unfolded at the Dutch Grand Prix, and in this piece I’ll walk you through the paddock stories, the on-track moments that TV showed you (and a few it didn’t), and the little behind-the-scenes details that made Zandvoort feel like one long, unpredictable day. From Isack Hadjar’s first podium (and a broken trophy) to Charles Leclerc stuck at turn 3, Oscar Piastri’s composed win, and a whole host of paddock anecdotes—here’s everything I saw and why the race weekend felt borderline surreal.

Table of contents

• Isack Hadjar: first podium, oversized joy and a broken trophy
• Charles Leclerc’s crash: the strange aftermath and being stranded at turn 3
• Oscar Piastri’s win and Lando Norris’ heartbreak
• McLaren celebration vs. VCARB: contrasts in post-race emotion
• Paddock life: scooters, shoes, cars and curious moments
• Crowds, logistics and the little things you notice trackside
• FAQ

Isack Hadjar: first podium, oversized joy and a broken trophy

Isack Hadjar produced one of those performances that feels inevitable in hindsight. He qualified P4, handled the race without drama, and then soaked up every second of his first podium. I watched him get hugged by his teammate Liam Lawson, by Yuki Tsunoda and even Max Verstappen—small moments that matter for a rookie finding his feet among established stars.

What I loved most wasn’t just the podium: it was the post-race behaviour. Hadjar kept the Pirelli hat on long after the ceremonial window—clearly thrilled and reluctant to let the moment end. In the TV pen he had a bag of sweets and was generous enough to offer them to everyone in the press room. He even joked about the idea of joining Red Bull and said, with a smile, “I’m not interested in that.” That kind of candidness goes a long way when you’re meeting a driver for the first time in an intense environment.

The highlight that I captured (and that went viral around the paddock) was the trophy incident. During the pit-lane celebration, after the first photo, Hadjar set the trophy down for a second shot—applying the smallest amount of pressure—and the porcelain split. His reaction was priceless. Important to clarify: the trophy belongs to the team, not the driver personally. Teams keep these if they want; Red Bull have done the same before and will likely display the broken piece proudly. The broken trophy only amplified the celebration: it triggered a full Red Bull shower, and Hadjar was hoisted onto shoulders. For any rookie, being that close to the jubilant mayhem is an unforgettable experience.

Charles Leclerc’s crash: the strange aftermath and being stranded at turn 3

One of the more unusual scenes of the day involved Charles Leclerc after his collision with Kimi Antonelli at turn 3. The contact left part of his car embedded in the fencing; the car was retrieved but the circumstances that followed were, frankly, odd.

Because his car ended up on the outside of the track, marshals told him he couldn’t cross back over, meaning he had to climb the fence and remain inside the turn 3 area for the duration of the race. If he’d been allowed to cross the track, it would have been a very short walk back to the garage. Instead, he sat at the marshal post, had a drink, and watched the action from the fence. The crash occurred at 16:12 and he stayed there until the end of the race at 16:45. He had his photographer Antoine Truchet there, who loaned him a phone so he could follow the laps. He wasn’t angry—just resigned that his race was done.

This kind of enforced sidelining doesn’t happen often in my years on the paddock. Drivers are typically shepherded away quickly. For a driver as popular as Charles, having to re-enter the paddock via public-facing routes (a so-called “moat” and tunnel) could have been chaotic, so the restrictions are understandable. Still, being stuck on the outside of the circuit, watching your teammates, rivals and the rest of the race unfold from a spectator-like vantage point is an odd place to be after a heavy moment on track.

Oscar Piastri’s composed win and Lando Norris’ retirement

Oscar Piastri drove with the composure of a veteran. When Lando Norris’s engine died mid-race, the moment handed Piastri a bigger cushion in the championship standings. I watched Oscar on the podium and in the media pen—he was calm, almost machine-like in his responses, which is starting to become his signature.

There was an amusing aside in the press pen: Oscar had accepted one of Hadjar’s sweets earlier and mentioned, with a laugh, that one got lodged in his teeth and delayed his answering the first question. Human moments like that cut through the hyper-professional aura and make drivers relatable.

For Lando, it was gutting. A potential strong result evaporated when the engine gave up. Small factors can be decisive—Adam Norris (Lando’s dad) even pointed out that a 5 km/h change in wind during Lando’s last lap may have been enough to tip qualifying advantage to Oscar. Motorsport is a game of tiny margins.

McLaren celebration vs. VCARB: contrasting post-race vibes

At McLaren, the celebrations were much calmer than what unfolded at VCARB. They had bottles of Moët on hand but didn’t pop them in the pit lane—the crew celebrated without the spraying and frenzy. The drivers and staff were smiling, congratulatory, and collected. You could feel a professional satisfaction throughout their group—the sort that comes from a team confident in its process and achievements.

Meanwhile, the Red Bull camp that celebrated Hadjar’s podium was louder, messier and a lot more spontaneous. Two different styles, both genuine, both justified—depending on the moment and the stakes.

Paddock life: scooters, shoes, cars and curious moments

The paddock is a world of micro-stories. A few that stood out this weekend:

• Valtteri Bottas and the Cadillac news: Bottas spent a lot of his time talking about his move to Cadillac, but he’s still a Mercedes driver until Abu Dhabi. He said talks began two years ago and the deal was confirmed in July—he’s been sitting on the news with the team for some time.
• Franco Colapinto and Fernando Alonso sharing scooters: Alonso’s scooter ran low on power and Franco gave it a human push while Alonso placed some weight on the scooter—an amusing little display of paddock-level improvisation.
• Carlos Sainz and the cuff debate: Sainz arrived on Friday with his jeans rolled up—some called it a two-inch cuff. He admitted he didn’t really know what a “cuff” was and deferred the fashion decision to his girlfriend; the internet had a field day.

Other lighter paddock touches included dogs in attendance, drivers receiving tulips from local hosts, and a parade of unique fashion choices (more on that below).

Crowds, cars and the Zandvoort logistics story

Friday’s crowd numbers were underwhelming, and FP3 on Saturday morning still showed gaps in the grandstands. But come qualifying and race day, the stands filled up. The local organizers can be reasonably satisfied, though the town logistics are always complicated.

Zandvoort’s access rules are strict: the town effectively closes to general traffic, with only accredited personnel and locals getting vehicle access. Most race attendees arrive by train. That creates bottlenecks—on Sunday night thousands queued for trains and experienced delays of an hour or more—an inevitable side-effect of a seaside circuit that prioritizes atmosphere over vehicular throughput.

Driver cars are always a source of curiosity. This weekend I noticed McLaren drivers in Volvo XC90s, Haas drivers also in Volvos, George Russell in a GLE 53, the VCARB boys in Civic Type Rs, and the Red Bull drivers in Ford Explorers. A few drivers—Lewis and Charles included—were in the Ferrari Purosangue. Lewis even had his car pulled up close to exit gates for a quick getaway after the race.

Fashion, fandom and a few oddities

There’s always fashion to note. This weekend I spotted bright Wellington boots with a Chanel logo. A quick look showed they retail for around €2,000—a statement piece if ever there was one and an interesting juxtaposition to the grubby, greasy world of pit-lane footwear.

One of my favourite images from the weekend captures the camaraderie of the crews: exhausted, smiling, and clearly proud. Those pit crews and mechanics are the backbone of the sport and their moments of relief and humour are compelling.

Who is the ‘bitterballen’ man?

Many of you messaged asking about the man in one of my photos—known online as the ‘bitterballen’ man. He’s Aaron Deckers from RacingNews365. He took a bit of flak for a particular picture, and the paddock chatter amplified it—but that’s the paddock for you: small world, loud opinions.

Conclusion

Zandvoort produced a weekend of contrast: rookie elation, mechanical heartbreak, odd onlookers, and vivid paddock colour. Some moments were loud and messy (the broken trophy and shoulder-hoist), others were quietly telling (Piastri’s composure, Leclerc sitting out the rest of the race). For me, the Dutch GP reinforced that Formula 1 is as much about the human, unscripted moments as it is about the engineered perfection of cars and strategy.

FAQ

Why did Isack Hadjar’s trophy break?

The trophy is porcelain. During the pit-lane celebration he placed the trophy down for a second photograph and the small amount of pressure was enough to cause it to crack. It’s not uncommon—these trophies are fragile and several were produced and distributed across hospitality suites.

Does the driver keep the trophy if it’s broken?

No. The physical trophy from the podium typically belongs to the team. The driver can purchase a replica if they want a personal keepsake, but the team receives and archives the official trophy.

Why was Charles Leclerc stuck at turn 3?

After colliding with Kimi Antonelli, his car ended up on the outside of the track. Regulations and safety procedures meant he couldn’t cross back over to the pits across live areas, so he had to stay inside the turn 3 enclosure until the race finished. That effectively stranded him trackside for the remainder of the event.

What happened to Lando Norris?

Lando suffered an engine failure during the race which forced him to retire. That allowed Oscar Piastri to extend his championship lead. Small external factors—like wind changes—can also affect lap times and qualifying margins.

Were there any safety or procedural concerns at Zandvoort?

The incidents themselves didn’t point to systemic safety issues; they were typical racing incidents and the response procedures were followed. The unusual element was how a car ending up on a specific side of the track leads to different post-crash logistics for the driver. That’s more about access control and crowd management than safety protocols being breached.

Will Angela Cullen return to working with Charles Leclerc?

Charles was seen working with his old trainer Kylie Tomic at this event, but there’s no definitive reason to read too much into that. Angela Cullen has worked with him extensively and is expected to be back for future races.

If you enjoy deep-dive paddock coverage, these weekends always produce more small moments than a television broadcast can carry. From rookie triumphs to logistical oddities, Zandvoort delivered a memorable, chaotic—and thoroughly human—race weekend.