Norris Delivers Dominant Dutch Grand Prix Victory

Lando Norris crosses the finish line to win Sunday's Heineken Dutch Grand Prix. (McLaren photo)

ZANDVOORT, Netherlands – Despite losing out on the start of Sunday’s Heineken Dutch Grand Prix, Lando Norris wasn’t about to let his second career Formula One victory get away.

After being overhauled by three-time defending F-1 champion Max Verstappen in the first corner at Circuit Zandvoort, Norris roared back later on to take control that he wouldn’t relinquish.

With a textbook pass in turn one on the 18th lap, Norris passed Verstappen for the lead and hardly looked back from that point on.

Once the pit cycle concluded for the frontrunners and Norris returned to the front of the field, he led the final 40 laps around the 2.646-mile, 14-turn circuit and ran away from the competition in the process.

Norris took the checkered flag 22.896 seconds clear of Verstappen for the largest margin of victory thus far in the F-1 season. It was a show of utter dominance for the 24-year-old McLaren driver.

“[This] feels amazing,” said Norris of claiming a win in front of a raucous Dutch crowd. “I wouldn’t say [it was] a perfect race, because of [being passed on] lap one again, but afterward it was beautiful. We knew our pace was very strong and the car was unbelievable. I could get comfortable very easily, and once I did I pushed and got past Max, which was the main [objective].

“Honestly, [it was] quite a straightforward race. Still tough, but very enjoyable.”

Sunday’s 72-lap race ran uninterrupted, without a safety car or even a local yellow flag to its name.

Norris led a race-high 51 circuits en route to his first Dutch Grand Prix trophy. He also set the fastest lap of the race – 1:13.817 – on the final lap to earn a bonus point for his season-long total.

Verstappen was a distant second after fighting an ill-handling Red Bull entry for the majority of the grand prix. He complained of “no grip” often and ultimately lost a chunk of his championship buffer to Norris.

The Dutchman was seeking his fourth straight F-1 victory in his home country.

“We had a good start, and we tried everything we could today, but in the race I think it was quite clear that we weren’t quick enough,” said Verstappen, whose point lead was trimmed from 78 to 70.

“I tried to be second today, because I felt that was what we had, and just did my own race … and that was second today.”

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc completed the podium, with an early pit undercut and solid mid-race pace allowing him to charge from sixth to third.

Norris’ teammate, Oscar Piastri, hoped to contend for the podium but stalled late and finished fourth. The second Ferrari of Carlos Sainz chased Norris home in fifth place.

Closing out the point-scoring drivers in the top 10 were Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, the Mercedes pair of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso.

All 20 starters made it to the finish line under power Sunday.

In addition to making up ground in the driver standings, McLaren also closed on Red Bull in the constructors’ standings as well, closing to just 30 points back leaving Zandvoort.

The F-1 season continues Sunday, Sept. 1 with the 94th Pirelli Italian Grand Prix at the famed Autodromo Nazionale Monza. Verstappen is the two-time defending winner of the event.

The finish:

1. Lando Norris, 2. Max Verstappen, 3. Charles Leclerc, 4. Oscar Piastri, 5. Carlos Sainz, 6. Sergio Perez, 7. George Russell, 8. Lewis Hamilton, 9. Pierre Gasly, 10. Fernando Alonso, 11. Nico Hulkenberg, 12. Daniel Ricciardo, 13. Lance Stroll, 14. Alex Albon, 15. Esteban Ocon, 16. Logan Sargeant, 17. Yuki Tsunoda, 18. Valtteri Bottas, 19. Zhou Guanyu, 20. Kevin Magnussen.

Lap Leader(s): Lando Norris Grid, Max Verstappen 1-17, Lando Norris 18-28, Oscar Piastri 29-32, Lando Norris 33-72.