Max Verstappen battled handling problems throughout the race, finishing second despite a strong start
Norris Reflects on his Second GP Win:
"It feels amazing, yeah, once again. I wouldn't say a perfect race because of lap one again, but afterwards it was beautiful. The pace was very strong. The car was unbelievable today, so I could get comfortable, I could push and get past Max, which was the main thing, and just go from there"
Verstappen on Second Place:
"You always try to do better... but throughout the race, I think it was quite clear that we were not quick enough, so I tried to be second today."
Leclerc on Salvaging a Podium for Ferrari:
"I'm not very often happy with a P3, but I think with today's race, we can be extremely happy with the job we've done on a difficult weekend for the team... It was a really good strategy. I did not expect to keep that third place until the end, but we did a really good job as a team"
Lando Norris delivered a standout performance at the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix, securing a dominant victory that halted Max Verstappen's three-year winning streak at his home circuit in Zandvoort. Starting from pole position, Norris initially lost the lead to Verstappen, who capitalized on his strong start. However, Norris quickly found his rhythm, closing the gap on Verstappen as the race progressed.
Taking advantage of Verstappen's mid-race grip issues, Norris executed a decisive DRS-assisted pass to retake the lead. From there, he extended his advantage, ultimately crossing the finish line 20 seconds ahead of Verstappen. This victory, following his earlier win in Miami, significantly narrows Verstappen’s lead in the championship to 70 points with nine races remaining, keeping Norris firmly in the title race.
Behind the leading duo, Charles Leclerc delivered a strong drive, moving up from sixth to secure third place and a crucial podium for Ferrari after a challenging weekend. Oscar Piastri finished fourth for McLaren after a strategic decision to extend his first stint backfired, costing him a potential podium finish.
Carlos Sainz took fifth place, adding valuable points for Ferrari, while Sergio Perez finished sixth in the second Red Bull. Mercedes drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton made late stops to switch to soft tires in a bid for the fastest lap, but it was Norris who ultimately claimed that honor, further boosting his points tally.
The race also featured notable performances from Pierre Gasly, who secured ninth for Alpine, and Fernando Alonso, who claimed the final point for Aston Martin by finishing tenth. Nico Hulkenberg, running in the points for much of the race, slipped to 11th in the closing stages, just missing out on a top-ten finish.
Elsewhere on the grid, Alex Albon fought back from a penalty that saw him start from the back, eventually finishing 14th. Lance Stroll, penalized for speeding in the pit lane, dropped from 12th to 13th, just behind Daniel Ricciardo.
As the Formula 1 season heads to Monza for the Italian Grand Prix, Norris will look to build on this momentum and continue challenging Verstappen for the championship. With the gap narrowing and nine races to go, the title race is far from decided, and the battle is set to intensify in the coming weeks.
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