Dutch Grand Prix – Race: Lando Norris brings down Max Verstappen on home soil

In a very festive atmosphere, completely in favor of Max Verstappen, the fifteenth round of the 2024 Formula 1 season is underway. The McLarens have a great opportunity with their two cars in first and third places, surrounding the local hero. Behind them, George Russell, Sergio Pérez, and Charles Leclerc are hoping to take advantage of the battle between the leaders.

However, at the start, poleman Lando Norris loses his pole position to the Dutchman, who overtakes him on the inside at the first corner amid wild cheers. It is indeed the inside line and therefore the even positions that start better since besides Verstappen who overtakes Norris, George Russell overtakes Oscar Piastri for the third place while Charles Leclerc overtakes Sergio Perez.

Just behind, it’s Pierre Gasly who is doing a magnificent job by overtaking the two Aston Martin cars in front of him to move up to seventh place. A few laps later, Carlos Sainz does the same and becomes a threat to the Frenchman. The Madrid native eventually manages to get the better of the Alpine on the 11th lap.

Starting last on the grid after his disqualification the day before, Alexander Albon kicks off the pit stops by swapping his medium tires for hard tires, presumably to go the distance in this Grand Prix. At the same time, following a penalty that saw him start 14th on the grid, Lewis Hamilton continues his climb by overtaking both Aston Martins. The seven-time world champion now sits in 9th place. It’s worth noting that, unlike all the other front-runners, the Briton started on soft tires.

Norris’ attack on the 18th lap

It is at the end of the first quarter of the race that Norris decides to launch his first attack on Verstappen. In the banking before the pit straight, the English driver positions himself in the exhaust of the Red Bull and moves alongside his opponent before the first corner. The McLaren is now leading the race.

Behind the leaders, Leclerc is very insistent on Oscar Piastri. The Ferrari seems to find the pace in the race that it did not have in qualifying. The Monegasque will indeed try the undercut on the 25th lap since he enters the pits to switch to hard tires. He is the first in the top 10, along with Hamilton, to make his first pit stop.

One lap later, it’s George Russell’s turn to stop. It’s a long stop for the number 63 Mercedes, which rejoins behind Leclerc. The undercut seems to have worked, at least on the German car. Still no call for Piastri at McLaren.

Verstappen pits on the 28th lap, leaving the two McLarens in the top two positions. Norris takes no risks, covering Red Bull’s stop one lap later. Piastri, now in the lead, aims to extend his stint and implement a strategy different from the other top drivers.

Sixth after 32 laps, Pierre Gasly is finally called into the pits along with leader Oscar Piastri. The Australian comes out fifth behind Norris, Verstappen, Leclerc, and Russell.

Norris’s demonstration in the second part of the race

From mid-race, Lando Norris gradually increases the gap between him and Max Verstappen, who is now 10 seconds behind on the 40th lap. In the same lap, Piastri goes around Russell on the outside of Tarzan corner and is now chasing Leclerc’s Ferrari for third place.

The four top teams now occupy the first eight places. Apart from Norris who is pulling away in the lead, nothing is decided behind and Hamilton, currently 8th, can still come and fight for a top 5. While Piastri is catching up with Leclerc, Sainz is catching up with Pérez for sixth place. The Spaniard is becoming more and more insistent in the mirrors of the Mexican’s Red Bull. It is on the 47th lap that the Ferrari enters the top 6 thanks to a magnificent overtake on the outside at the first corner.

Aggressive strategy at Mercedes. Lewis Hamilton comes into the pits to put on fresh soft tires and make a final sprint stint. The Englishman exits without losing any positions as his closest pursuer was over 20 seconds behind before his pit stop. With his new tires, Hamilton closes in on Pérez and naturally sets the fastest lap of the race.

Piastri keeps running into Leclerc. His tire wear seems to be less important and he is struggling to launch his attack on the Ferrari. We are on the 55th lap and Mercedes brings in George Russell this time to put on worn soft tires for him. The two gray and black cars are now 7th and 8th behind Sainz and Pérez.

A close race for the top spots.

Lando Norris seems to have secured the victory. As well as Verstappen for second place. However, nothing is decided between Leclerc and Pisatri for the third step of the podium. Sainz is also safe for fifth place while Pérez will have to defend his sixth position against the Mercedes. On soft tires, the silver arrows are slowly making their way up but are still struggling to catch up with the Mexican.

There are less than ten laps left and Lando Norris is cruising calmly. Charles Leclerc is defending well against Piastri and even manages to widen the gap. A little further back, Pierre Gasly holds a nice ninth position ahead of Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin.

The ranking no longer evolves and at the end of the 72 race laps, it is therefore Lando Norris who prevails with an incredible margin of 21 seconds, the largest of the season since the Bahrain Grand Prix in early March.

The McLaren Englishman’s ahead of Max Verstappen’s Red Bull, Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari, and Oscar Piastri’s other McLaren. It’s even a hat-trick for Norris who, after yesterday’s pole, secures victory today and the fastest lap in the race.

Carlos Sainz, Sergio Pérez, George Russell, Lewis Hamilton, Pierre Gasly and Fernando Alonso complete the top 10.