Lando Norris secured a commanding victory at the Dutch Grand Prix, finishing ahead of Max Verstappen, who claimed second place, while Charles Leclerc rounded out the podium in third.
Following his triumph in Zandvoort, Norris expressed his belief that McLaren now possesses the fastest car in Formula One. He celebrated his second race win of the season, crossing the finish line 22 seconds clear of championship leader Verstappen. However, Norris still trails Verstappen by 70 points in the championship standings as nine races remain in the season.
In the early phases of the season, Verstappen’s Red Bull was the clear standout, having won four of the first five races. Nevertheless, Norris contends that McLaren is now at the forefront of the competition.
“Absolutely, yes,” he asserted. “Throughout this weekend, I believe we’ve had the best car. While we haven’t maintained a dominant presence this season, we’ve had the best overall performance.”
He acknowledged that McLaren has likely missed opportunities for additional victories this year.
When asked if he feels he is in a title battle with Verstappen, Norris responded, “I’ve been in the championship fight since the season began. It’s not a matter of needing to push harder or change my approach suddenly, as I’m already focused and working diligently. Being 70 points behind Max makes it impractical to think too far ahead. I prefer to take it one race at a time and maintain my current focus, rather than get caught up in broader thoughts.”