How Lando Norris Made History at the Dutch Grand Prix

Lando Norris claimed the second win of his F1 career by winning the Dutch Grand Prix after a month-long summer break. With this win, Norris reduced the Championship gap at the top to 70 points with nine races to go.

Starting from pole position, Norris once again lost his lead in the first corner as he struggled to fire up his tires early on. Verstappen took advantage and took the lead of the race in front of the pact house at Zandvoort. But as has been the case in the recent races, Mclaren looked by far the superior car on the track and Norris regained the lead in Lap 18 of the race.

The Britt never looked back as he comfortably held off Verstappen, winning the race with a margin of over 22 seconds. Norris also earned an extra point for the fastest lap of the race in the latter stages.

Norris Secures his first pole-to-win conversion

Dutch Grand Prix was the first time that Norris claimed victory from pole position having failed to do so in the past 3 attempts. His first F1 pole position came at the 2021 Russian Grand Prix when he led for most of the race only to see himself tumble down the order in the final stages.

Norris ends Verstappen’s home dominance

Ever since the Dutch Grand Prix was reinstated in the F1 calendar in 2021, the home favorite Max Verstappen dominated his home GP. He famously won in the 2021 season, holding off title rival Lewis Hamilton to take the victory. In the dominant seasons of 2022 and 2023, Verstappen again treated his fans to a spectacle, taking maximum points at Zandvoort.

However this season, the rise of Mclaren in the F1 has proven to be a headache for Red Bull and the Papayas have narrowed the Constructors gap to just 30 points. Norris also ended Verstappen’s home dominance and did it some style, winning the race by more than 22 seconds. This win is a testament to how far the McLaren have come from last year and beating Verstappen in his own backyard will do a world of good to Norris as he chases his first-ever Formula 1 World Championship.

McLaren’s first win from pole since 2012

Lando Norris’ win from pole position at the Dutch GP was their first in 12 years.  Their last win from the pole came all the way back in 2012 when Lewis Hamilton took the win from the pole at the Italian Grand Prix, in what was his final season with the Papayas.

Lando Norris is the first McLaren driver to win a Grand Prix from pole position since Lewis Hamilton at the 2012 Italian Grand Prix 😮

More stats and facts from Zandvoort 👇#F1 #DutchGP https://t.co/9lCNvtaMMj

— Formula 1 (@F1) August 25, 2024

After the win, the race winner was full of praise for the car, and despite the poor start, the 24-year-old was impressed by the performance of the car.

“It feels amazing,” Norris said. “Yeah. Once again, I wouldn’t say a perfect race because of lap 1 again, but, afterward, it was beautiful. You know, the pace was very strong in the car was unbelievable today so I could get comfortable, I could push and I get past Max, which was the main thing, and I just go from there. So, honestly, quite a straightforward race. Still, Still tough, but very enjoyable.”

The attention now turns to the Italian Grand Prix and as Mclaren looks poised to overtake Red Bull in the Constructors Championship, Max Verstappen still holds a comfortable lead of 70 points at the top of the Driver’s Championship.

Drivers Standings:

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Mohd Faisal Hakak

Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.