ZANDVOORT, Netherlands (AP) — George Russell started the second half of the Formula 1 season in style as he eased to a sprint race victory Saturday ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix.
Russell started from pole position, quickly built a gap to Lando Norris in second and didn’t look back from there, taking his first win since the Austrian Grand Prix in June.
Charles Leclerc snatched second off Norris with a daring pass into the inside of the first corner with six laps to go.
Norris held off a late charge from Russell’s Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli to stay third. Fourth-place Antonelli, starting fifth after car damage in qualifying, still managed to extend his standings lead because his closest challenger Lewis Hamilton could only manage seventh for Ferrari.
Qualifying takes place later Saturday for Sunday’s Dutch Grand Prix.
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