Lando Norris, the 24 year old British McLaren driver won the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort on Sunday, beating Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing with a close margin. This is also his second Grand Prix victory after Miami in his career, thereby making him a strong contender in the 2024 Drivers Championship.
Max Verstappen finishes second by 22.896 seconds and Charles Leclerc takes third position by 25.439 seconds. This is the first time after 2021, where Max Verstappen lost his home race and his losing streak continues as he consistently lost five races till now. It was a scary beginning for Norris, as he allowed Verstappen to take the lead in the race, yet another race, however by the 18th lap, he managed to lead the race and converted his first pole into victory.
Highlights of the race
The 24 year old British driver has always failed to lead the race from the opening corner, the technical fluctuations remain on this part and this is what happened, again, when Verstappen went past Norris, in yesterday’s race.
McLaren was quite struggling in the middle of the race, with almost confusing radio messages, when Will Joseph asked Norris whether he was racing the car or the driver, because let’s admit Mclaren has the fastest car on the grid, and they are competing against one man army.
Norris had the race pace and DRS, and by lap 18, he managed to take the lead of the race. That’s when Verstappen said on his radio, he can’t go any faster. Despite finishing second he didn’t enjoy the race pace and said there were balance issues with the car. His teammate Sergio Perez finished sixth, his best finish since Miami.
Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz had displayed quite a good race pace in their struggling cars. Leclerc was defending P3, while Piastri was trying to undercut him. Carlos Sainz with his classy overtakes earned P5, despite getting knocked in Q2.
The Mercedes drivers dropped behind despite a good start, Russell ended up seventh and Lewis in eighth place.
Will Norris beat Verstappen in the Driver’s Standings!?
Mclaren would beat Red Bull in Constructors Championship, if they continue to score till Singapore GP. Red Bull isn’t the dominant car on the grid anymore and their points are falling behind as their only one driver has been scoring ever since Miami.
With Mcl38, Lando Norris has been trying to prove he’s the best on the grid, with his ruthlessness on the track, that has cost him several times, with his fierce competitiveness with Verstappen.
Lando Norris is seventy points away from Verstappen in the driver’s championship, and he has to win a couple of races more, if he intends to beat Max Verstappen. Helmut Marko has admitted that Red Bull is lagging behind and the team needs to improve, otherwise Verstappen would get beaten in the driver’s standings. McLaren is thirty points away from Red Bull in the Constructors Championship, and would be a long time after 1998, if they won.
The Dutch Grand Prix has exhibited McLaren’s strategical errors, when Piastri got beaten by Leclerc, thereby losing position. McLaren has beaten Red Bull in the last nine races and the ahead nine races need more focus for the team.
Norris admitted that McLaren has upgraded ever since his Miami win, and his first win from pole position, as previously the mistakes from both driver and the team has cost them. They are looking forward to Monza, it’s a tricky circuit, but they would chip away like always.
