LANDO TITLE DREAM GOES UP IN SMOKE

Norris forced to retire as championship rival Piastri extends lead

- FROM HARRY SMITH

LANDO NORRIS could have been heading to Monza next weekend hot on the heels of team-mate and title rival Oscar Piastri.

But cruel fate intervened at Zandvoort yesterday, as it often does in world title duels, to leave Piastri 34 points ahead with nine races left.

The McLaren duo were cruising towards a fifth successive one-two finish, with Norris still within striking distance of passing his team-mate in the closing stages of the Dutch Grand Prix.

But with seven laps left, disaster struck. Moments after reporting smoke in the cockpit, Norris ground to a halt at the side of the track (right).

At least he does not have to wait long for the next outing, the trip to Italy being less than a week away. But the way things are going he is probably going to need some misfortune to come Piastri's way if he is to overhaul the Australian.