Lando Norris, the British driver for McLaren Mercedes, solidified his status as a top Formula 1 competitor with a remarkable victory at the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix on August 25. Norris took the lead from three-time defending champion Max Verstappen during lap 18 and maintained his dominance throughout the race, marking his second win of the season and the second of his career, following his triumph in Miami earlier this year.
This victory represents McLaren’s first win at the Circuit Zandvoort in nearly four decades, with their last victory at the track occurring in 1985.
“It feels amazing,” Norris remarked after the race. “It wasn’t a perfect race because of lap one. Afterwards, it was beautiful. The pace was strong, and the car was unbelievable. I could push and get past Max, which was the main thing. Honestly, it was kind of a straightforward race, kind of tough but still enjoyable.”
Norris achieved victory with a margin of over 21 seconds ahead of Verstappen, who finished in second place, while Charles Leclerc took home third for Ferrari.
“We had a good start,” Verstappen noted. “We tried everything we could today, but throughout the race, I think it was quite clear that we were not quick enough, so I tried to be second today.”
Although Norris started from pole position, it was Verstappen who initially navigated lap one ahead. Norris stayed close until he executed a critical overtake on lap 18.
Pit stops commenced on lap 25, starting with Leclerc, who aimed for an undercut on teammate Oscar Piastri. Verstappen pitted on lap 28, with Norris following one lap later. Norris’s team executed an efficient pit stop, allowing him to return to the track ahead of Verstappen.
From that point forward, Norris showcased his racing prowess, pulling further away from Verstappen and the rest of the competitors as the race progressed.
This race was notable for being the fourth of the 2024 season without any yellow flags or retirements. The Formula 1 circuit will remain in Europe for the next event, the Italian Grand Prix, on September 1 at the historic Autodromo Nazionale Monza, with coverage provided by Sky Sports and broadcast on ESPN.