Dutch Grand Prix

At Zandvoort in 1985, Niki Lauda rolled back the years with a masterful and emotional drive to victory - his final win in Formula 1. The veteran Austrian timed everything to perfection, staying patient early on and taking advantage of strategy and traffic to move into the lead. Once in front, he used every ounce of experience to hold off his teammate, Alain Prost, in a tight, tactical battle.

Prost, leading much of the race, lost out during the pit window but never stopped pushing. He stayed glued to Lauda’s gearbox over the final laps, waiting for a mistake that never came. While second place helped his title campaign, the day belonged to Lauda, who outfoxed the field with brilliant precision and race management.

Ayrton Senna secured third after a spirited and determined drive in the Lotus. He battled throughout the race, especially against the Ferraris, and once again showed his class with a daring overtake on Alboreto through the fast second sector. Senna had no answer for the McLarens but proved again he was always a podium threat.

The race saw a few dramatic exits, including Nigel Mansell crashing out while fighting in the top six and Nelson Piquet retiring with gearbox issues. But all eyes were on Lauda - one final, unforgettable triumph before retirement.