Lando Norris retired from second place with an oil leak as McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri took a controlled victory in an incident-strewn Dutch Grand Prix.
Norris lost second to Max Verstappen on the first lap, but pressured Piastri throughout after reclaiming the place a few laps later.
Piastri was always in control and Norris was on course for a comfortable second place only for his car to stop in a cloud of smoke with seven laps to go.
The dramatic turn of events at the end of a chaotic race featuring three safety cars and multiple crashes and incidents could be decisive in the private title fight between Piastri and Norris.
The Australian's seventh victory in 13 races this season, in which Piastri has been the model of coolness and consistency, extends his championship lead to 34 points.
Red Bull's Max Verstappen inherited second place, and Norris' retirement elevated French rookie Isack Hadjar, 20, to an outstanding first career podium finish.
'Game over after contact'published at 16:53 British Summer Time
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George Russell, who finished fourth, is asked to sum up that race: "Miserable.
"We had a lot of damage with the contact with Charles and after that it was game over.
"To come home with fourth was substantially better than deserved but even prior to the contact with Charles didn't have the pace.
"I don't think I've ever seen someone attempt to overtake on the outside of that corner. I didn't push him into the gravel, I was taking my line. It looks like a cool move but it kind of ruined my race thereafter.
"How things panned out at least we would have been in a fight for the podium, but that's because of what happened with Charles and Lando."
'The contact is on me' - Antonellipublished at 16:48 British Summer Time
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Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli spoke to Sky Sports on the incident with Charles Leclerc: "I'm disappointed, the race was looking good and the pace was good, I was feeling good in the car and just a shame to have missed out.
"For the contact, it's on me. I tried to avoid it, especially when I saw he was coming back in front, but it was not enough.
"I feel sorry to Charles [Leclerc] and the team [Ferrari and now we move forwards."
On the learnings he will take from the weekend: "I need to nail qualifying. I think also in this kind of situation, it's better maybe to think twice and maybe sometimes waiting is a bit better.
"Obviously in the moment, it's sometimes hard because I was feeling good and the pace was good, I knew something very good could have happened, but it was a bit too much.
"Maybe next time I will wait or I need to be like more sure that I can stick it, that's the main learning and now we move forward."
No lift home for Leclercpublished at 16:44 British Summer Time
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Lorraine McKenna BBC Sport Journalist in Zandvoort
We saw Charles Leclerc sat on the hill at Turn Three for what seemed like half the race, following his contact with the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli.
I’ve just been in the scrum of the media pen and asked the Ferrari driver if there was a reason he was left alone for so long. “I just couldn’t get a lift!” he joked. “It was just as simple as that.”
'We experienced two sides of motorsport' - Stellapublished at 16:25 British Summer Time
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McLaren boss Andrea Stella told Sky Sports: "Today we experienced the two sides of motorsport. On one side we have the joy and satisfaction for another victory for McLaren and a deserved victory for Oscar [Piastri], he ran a very strong and clean weekend.
"On the opposite side we had the disappointment and the pain and the retirement. Lando [Norris] was in contention to try and win the race, it was certainly a possible one-two today from McLaren. Joy and pain at the same time but this is racing."
On what happened to Lando Norris: "We don't know yet, it would be unfair to speculate if it's a chassis problem or an engine problem.
"We are on team, we go together, there is no difference in terms of where the responsibility lies, we will review and see what the problem is. We will fix it and we go again.
If Lando Norris can still contend in his championship: "100 percent absolutely no doubt and absolutely no hesitation.
"I think if possible we will see even the best of Lando as he tries to recover the points he missed and this is not ideal because of a problem that happened on the car which is a situation which we wouldn't want to have.
"We would like to give same opportunities to both drivers but I'm sure Lando will give his best and we will definitely try and recover the points that we missed today."
'Hurts, but I'll keep fighting'published at 16:18 British Summer Time
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McLaren's Lando Norris, speaking about his thoughts after his retirement today: "Not much. Just want to go have a burger and go home.
"I was quick today. It is impossible to overtake here.A good race today. I was happy I could stay within 1.5/2s.
"It was a positive race but it didn't mean anything. I couldn't get past. Oscar deserved it today. Just not my weekend.
"That is life, I just take it on the chin and move on."
On if he can still fight for the title: "We will wait and see. It is frustrating. It hurts to lose 25 points outright. It would have been smaller, but I just have to keep fighting, keep doing what I can.
"I look on and try and bounce back. I will make sure I do everything I can."
'Very satisfied to come out on top' - Piastripublished at 16:04 British Summer Time
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Image source, Getty Images
Oscar Piastri
wins the Dutch Grand Prix, he said: "It feels good obviously, I controlled the race when I needed to and obviously it was incredibly unfortunate for Lando [Norris] at the end.
"I felt like I was in control in that one and felt like I used the pace when I needed to, it was a bit of a different race to 12 months ago.
"I'm very happy with all the work I've done to try and improve around here and very satisfied to come out on top.
"We didn't change anything special, just trying to improve everywhere we can.
"The start of this weekend was looking like a difficult one and I managed to get it together in qualifying and I was happy with the pace I had today.
"There were a couple of safety cars that spiced it up a little bit. I'm very proud of the whole team and it wasn't just myself to improve to get here it was the whole team around me and without them, none of this is possible."
On it being a perfect start for the second half of the season: "Yes, starting out on top is a good way to go.
"If we can keep it running then that would be great but there's a long way to go yet and we will try and keep it one race at a time."
The trophy for the Dutch Grand Prix is a lovely looking one although I feel like my nan had smaller versions of them on her mantelpiece a couple of decades ago.
Abbi Pulling F1 Academy champion on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
Oscar Piastri will know it gives him an advantage going forwards and that means Lando Norris' work is really cut out for him in the second half of this season.