Lewis Hamilton 'anger' branded 'refreshing' as Liam Lawson achieves Red Bull 'redemption' - International Media Reacts

Lando Norris produced a statement victory at Zandvoort as the reigning F1 drivers' champion beat championship leader Kimi Antonelli to claim his second consecutive grand prix win and breathe fresh life into the title battle.

The race was packed with talking points, beginning with Max Verstappen's dramatic first-lap crash at his home grand prix, which brought out the red flags and ultimately ended his race.

Mercedes still secured a double podium through Antonelli and George Russell, while Lewis Hamilton was left frustrated by Ferrari's strategy after finishing fourth.

With Norris now 83 points behind Antonelli and McLaren appearing to have made a major step forward, the Dutch Grand Prix has transformed the complexion of the championship heading into the final stretch of the season.

Here's how the international media reacted to a dramatic final Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, the 12th round of the F1 season.

🇬🇧 The Telegraph - Lewis Hamilton’s anger is refreshing for F1 and shows he cares again

The Telegraph believes Lewis Hamilton’s unusually sharp frustration over Ferrari’s strategy at Zandvoort is actually a positive sign, arguing that it demonstrates how much he still cares about winning.

Hamilton’s radio complaints after being delayed behind Charles Leclerc are presented as evidence that the seven-time world champion is once again genuinely invested in Ferrari’s title ambitions, rather than the despondency that characterised parts of his first season with the team.

The piece highlights his improved 2026 form, including his Barcelona victory, and suggests that having a competitive car has reignited his motivation.

Ultimately, Hamilton’s anger is portrayed not as a problem for Ferrari, but as something the team should welcome as it looks to challenge for championships.

🇳🇱 De Telegraaf - Kimi Antonelli admits Mercedes no longer have F1’s fastest car

Dutch outlet De Telegraaf focuses on Kimi Antonelli’s admission that Mercedes have lost their position as the fastest team in Formula 1.

The championship leader acknowledged that McLaren had made a major step forward, particularly since introducing its significant upgrade package at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Antonelli nevertheless retained confidence in Mercedes’ ability to fight, with the team still leading both championships and scoring strongly at Zandvoort.

The comments underline the growing threat posed by Lando Norris and McLaren as the 2026 title battle enters its decisive phase.

🇮🇹 La Gazzetta dello Sport - Ferrari’s strategy errors expose chaos on the pit wall

Gazzetta dello Sport takes aim at Ferrari’s management of the Dutch Grand Prix, contrasting the team’s problems with Mercedes’ more decisive approach to team orders.

The Italian publication highlights Hamilton repeatedly asking to get past Leclerc because he was quicker, before becoming increasingly sarcastic and frustrated as Ferrari delayed making decisions.

Hamilton ultimately argued that the team had cost him valuable seconds by failing to execute its strategy at the right time, potentially denying him a podium.

Gazzetta argues that the incident exposes a wider issue for Ferrari: while Toto Wolff has established clear rules and priorities at Mercedes, Fred Vasseur’s more measured approach has not always produced the same level of discipline from his drivers.

🇫🇷 L'Équipe - Lando Norris has reignited the title fight

French newspaper L’Équipe views Lando Norris’ second consecutive grand prix victory as a major turning point in the 2026 championship.

The publication describes Norris as arguably the driver in the best form at present, having won decisively at Zandvoort despite remaining some distance behind Antonelli in the standings.

His victory followed a difficult opening half of the season for McLaren, but the team’s recent upgrades have transformed its competitiveness and given Norris a car capable of fighting Mercedes on merit.

L’Équipe therefore sees Norris’ back-to-back wins as proof that his title defence is very much alive, even if Antonelli retains a substantial championship advantage.

🇳🇿 New Zealand Herald - Liam Lawson completes his Red Bull redemption

The New Zealand Herald focuses on Liam Lawson’s impressive return to Red Bull, describing his points finish at Zandvoort as the completion of something of a redemption story.

Lawson was drafted back into the senior Red Bull team at short notice after Isack Hadjar’s injury, having previously endured a difficult spell with the outfit.

Despite the challenging circumstances and limited preparation, the New Zealander emerged as Red Bull’s best performer in the Dutch Grand Prix, securing a points finish while Max Verstappen crashed out on the opening lap.

The result provides Lawson with a significant confidence boost and a timely reminder of what he can do in a Red Bull after his previous opportunity with the team went so badly.

🇦🇺 Herald Sun - Piastri fumes as McLaren frustration deepens

The Herald Sun focuses on Oscar Piastri’s latest disappointing result, with the Australian finishing sixth and admitting he is struggling to understand why his pace has fallen away so dramatically.

Piastri made a strong start and moved into third, but a slow pit stop on lap 18 was followed by a significant loss of performance, leaving him more than 32 seconds behind victorious McLaren team-mate Lando Norris by the chequered flag.

The Australian was particularly frustrated by the recurring nature of the problem, saying he had "nothing" despite having felt competitive earlier in the race, while tyre difficulties allowed Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton to move ahead.

Against the backdrop of Norris winning his second consecutive grand prix and Max Verstappen crashing out on the opening lap, the Herald Sun portrays Piastri as increasingly desperate for answers as his championship challenge continues to unravel.