Have We Just Witnessed A Championship Defining Moment?

The first race back after summer break wasn't short on drama. Lewis Hamilton DNF-ing in the early stages of the race, Charles Leclerc DNF-ing in the later stages, Isack Hadjar getting his first F1 podium in his rookie year. But there was one moment that left a lot of fans with their jaws dropped. With only a handful of laps left in the Dutch Grand Prix, Lando Norris' car had smoke exuding from the back of it. An oil leak meant he wasn't going to see the checkered flag.

Coming into this race, Norris was only nine points behind championship leader and teammate, Oscar Piastri. The hope for Norris was that he would be able to either overtake Piastri in the points or close down that gap even more. Instead, what's happened is that gap has extended to 34 points.

34 points isn't an impossible difference to overcome. Especially with Norris in equal machinery against Piastri. But having now registered two DNFs this season, Norris is on the back foot. His teammate has come away with points every weekend so far, and Norris, since race five, has been chasing him.

Before heading into summer break, many people had said that just one DNF could decide this championship. Have we seen that happen this weekend? Norris can't settle for P2 in races, not when Piastri is in dominant form. He is going to have to make sure that he qualifies ahead of the Australian driver and, if possible, finish on the top step of the podium.

Of course, anything can, and usually does, happen in F1. A single Piastri DNF could bring Norris much closer to leading the championship. As it stands right now though, Piastri has some breathing space and Norris has far more pressure on his shoulders.

There are nine races left in the season and that gives Norris ample opportunity to take the lead from Piastri and close out the year as a World Champion. The Dutch Grand Prix, however, has made that a little more difficult.