McLaren’s Lando Norris put an end to Max Verstappen’s undefeated record at his home race with a dominant victory at the Dutch Grand Prix. This marked Norris’s second career win in Formula One, injecting fresh excitement into the championship on Sunday.
Verstappen, the triple world champion from Red Bull, finished 22.896 seconds behind Norris. While Verstappen took the lead at the beginning, he was overtaken on the 18th lap out of 72 by Norris. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc secured third place, crossing the finish line with the chequered flag.
This race at Zandvoort was the first time Verstappen failed to claim victory since its return to the calendar in 2021. It also extended his losing streak this season to five races. As a result, Verstappen’s lead over Norris was reduced to 70 points after completing 15 out of a record-breaking 24 rounds. Additionally, McLaren managed to narrow the gap in the constructors’ championship, now trailing Red Bull by only 30 points.
Norris expressed his elation, saying, “It feels amazing. I wouldn’t call it a perfect race due to lap one, but it was still a beautiful performance. The pace was formidable, and the car performed unbelievably well.” This win follows Norris’s first triumph in Miami back in May.
“I managed to overtake Max with some effort. The race was challenging but enjoyable.” Norris, who had secured pole position for the fourth time in his career, triumphed in Sunday’s race along the windy Dutch coast, surrounded by his rival’s passionate Orange Army of fans. This marked the first occasion where Norris successfully converted his advantage into a victory. At the beginning, it appeared that he might once again squander his chances.
The 24-year-old British driver experienced a sluggish start off the line while Verstappen accelerated and took a commanding lead into the first turn. However, the McLaren not only possessed impressive speed but also had the advantage of drag reduction (DRS). After carefully assessing the situation on lap 17, Norris executed a daring maneuver on the inside of turn one, surpassing Verstappen and steadily increasing his lead. In a final display of skill, Norris secured the fastest lap and was awarded the title of Driver of the Day by fans. Verstappen commented, “You always hope for better results. Despite giving it our all and making a strong start, it became evident that we simply didn’t have enough speed.”
Norris’s colleague, Oscar Piastri, secured the fourth position, surpassing Carlos Sainz from Ferrari, while Sergio Perez from Red Bull came in sixth. The Mercedes duo, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, claimed the seventh and eighth spots respectively. Pierre Gasly from Alpine finished in ninth place, albeit a lap behind, and Fernando Alonso secured the last point for Aston Martin.
