Lando Norris, the British driver for McLaren Mercedes, solidified his status as a leading competitor in Formula 1 by securing a victory at the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix on August 25. Norris took the lead from three-time champion Max Verstappen on lap 18 and maintained his advantage, marking his second win of the 2024 season and the second of his F1 career after his earlier triumph in Miami.
This win is significant for McLaren, as it is the team’s first victory at the Circuit Zandvoort in nearly 40 years, with the previous win occurring in 1985.
“It feels amazing,” Norris said 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 [Verstappen], which was the main thing. Honestly, it was kind of a straightforward race, tough but still enjoyable.”
Norris crossed the finish line over 21 seconds ahead of Verstappen, who claimed second place. Charles Leclerc finished third, rounding out the podium for Ferrari.
“We had a good start,” Verstappen noted. “We tried everything we could today, but throughout the race, it was clear that we were not quick enough, so I settled for second.”
Although Norris started on pole, Verstappen took an early lead at the start of the race. Norris kept close behind until he executed a decisive overtaking maneuver on lap 18.
Pit stops commenced on lap 25, with Leclerc first to pit for fresh tires as he aimed to make an undercut on Oscar Piastri. Verstappen followed pit stop on lap 28, with Norris conducting his stop one lap later. Norris’s team performed well, allowing him to rejoin the track in front of Verstappen.
From there, Norris dominated the second half of the race, extending his lead and securing a comfortable victory.
This race marked the fourth event of the 2024 season without any yellow flags or retirements. Formula 1 will continue in Europe with the Italian Grand Prix scheduled for Sunday, September 1, at the famous Autodromo Nazionale Monza, with coverage provided by Sky Sports and ESPN.