ZANDVOORT, NETHERLANDS — Lando Norris delivered a sensational performance to win the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix, bringing an end to Max Verstappen’s unbeaten streak at his home circuit. The McLaren driver executed a flawless race, demonstrating exceptional pace and racecraft to secure his second victory of the season and breathe new life into the championship battle.
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Dutch Grand Prix 2024: Starting Grid
The 2024 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort began with Lando Norris on pole position, showcasing his exceptional qualifying pace. The McLaren driver set a commanding time of 1:09.673, outpacing Max Verstappen, who lined up second with a time of 1:10.029.
Check the below mentioned table for the starting grid of Dutch GP 2024.
| Starting Grid of Dutch GP: Pos | No | Starting Grid of Dutch GP: Driver | Car | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 1:09.673 |
| 2 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:10.029 |
| 3 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | 1:10.172 |
| 4 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:10.244 |
| 5 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:10.416 |
| 6 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:10.582 |
| 7 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:10.633 |
| 8 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:10.857 |
| 9 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault | 1:10.977 |
| 10 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | 1:10.914 |
| 11 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | RB Honda RBPT | 1:10.955 |
| 12 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas Ferrari | 1:11.215 |
| 13 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | RB Honda RBPT | 1:11.943 |
| 14 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1:10.948 |
| 15 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine Renault | 1:11.995 |
| 16 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:12.168 |
| 17 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:13.261 |
| 18 | 2 | Logan Sargeant | Williams Mercedes | |
| 19 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams Mercedes | |
| 20 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas Ferrari | 1:11.295 |
Dutch GP 2024: Verstappen’s Lightning Start Fails to Secure Victory
The Dutch Grand Prix began under the most favorable conditions for Max Verstappen, who, starting from second, quickly overtook pole-sitter Lando Norris at Turn 1. Cheered on by a passionate home crowd, Verstappen appeared to be in control as he extended his lead over Norris, making use of the clear air ahead to pull away. By Lap 10, Verstappen had built a comfortable gap, seemingly on course to maintain his perfect record at Zandvoort.
However, as the race progressed, Verstappen’s early advantage began to fade. The Dutchman struggled with tire degradation, particularly on his front left, which allowed Norris to gradually reel him in. McLaren’s strategic decision to keep Norris out for a longer first stint paid off, as the Briton’s fresher tires in the second half of the race enabled him to close the gap.
Dutch GP 2024: Norris Executes Perfect Strategy to Reclaim Lead
On Lap 18, Norris, with the benefit of DRS, made his move on Verstappen. The pass was clinical, as Norris powered down the main straight and dived down the inside at Turn 1, taking the lead in front of a stunned Dutch crowd. From that point on, Norris never looked back. He managed his tires expertly, maintaining a steady pace that kept Verstappen at bay.
Despite Verstappen’s attempts to regain the lead, Norris continued to extend his advantage, showcasing the McLaren’s impressive race pace. The team’s strategy, combined with Norris’s tire management, proved decisive as the race wore on. By the time both drivers completed their final pit stops, Norris had built a lead of over 10 seconds.
Dutch GP 2024: Leclerc Shines Amidst the Battle at the Front
While Norris and Verstappen were locked in their duel, Charles Leclerc emerged as the star of the midfield. The Ferrari driver, starting from sixth, quickly made his way through the pack, overtaking both Mercedes drivers and Sergio Perez in the early stages. Leclerc’s Ferrari seemed particularly well-suited to the Zandvoort circuit, allowing him to close in on the leading pair.
Leclerc’s drive was marked by a combination of aggressive overtakes and strategic pit stops. His ability to extract maximum performance from the car on a challenging circuit like Zandvoort was a testament to his skill and the improvements Ferrari has made in recent weeks. In the closing laps, Leclerc was able to fend off a late charge from McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, securing a valuable third-place finish for Ferrari.
Dutch GP 2024: McLaren’s Piastri Impresses in Fourth, Sainz Recovers for Fifth
Oscar Piastri, continuing his impressive rookie season, finished fourth after a solid performance throughout the race. The young Australian driver showed maturity beyond his years, maintaining a consistent pace and avoiding mistakes on a circuit known for its difficulty. Piastri’s result, coupled with Norris’s win, underscored McLaren’s resurgence this season, positioning the team as serious contenders in both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships.
Carlos Sainz, meanwhile, had a more eventful race. After a difficult qualifying session saw him start from eighth, the Spaniard made up ground during the race with a combination of quick lap times and well-timed pit stops. Sainz’s ability to recover to fifth by the checkered flag highlighted Ferrari’s strong race pace, even if they were unable to challenge for the win.
Dutch GP 2024: Mercedes and Alpine Battle in the Midfield
Mercedes had a mixed day, with both George Russell and Lewis Hamilton involved in various on-track battles. Russell’s race was hampered by an early pit stop due to a slow puncture, but he fought back to finish seventh, just behind Sergio Perez. Hamilton, starting from 13th after a disappointing qualifying, executed a recovery drive that saw him climb up to eighth by the end of the race. His late switch to soft tires enabled him to set competitive lap times, though he was unable to challenge the leaders.
Alpine’s Pierre Gasly had a quiet but effective race, finishing ninth. The Frenchman managed to stay out of trouble and capitalize on others’ mistakes, securing valuable points for the team. His teammate, Esteban Ocon, wasn’t as fortunate, finishing outside the points after struggling with tire degradation and balance issues.
Dutch GP 2024: Drama Further Down the Grid
The lower order saw its fair share of drama, with multiple incidents impacting the race results. Lance Stroll, who was running in 12th, received a penalty for speeding in the pit lane, dropping him to 13th at the finish. Alex Albon’s day was equally frustrating. Starting from the back of the grid, Albon made steady progress but ultimately failed to break into the points, finishing 11th.
Williams’ Logan Sargeant and Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg both had races to forget, finishing near the back after dealing with various technical issues and penalties. The struggles of these drivers highlighted the difficulties of the Zandvoort circuit, where overtaking opportunities are limited and any mistake can be costly.
Dutch GP 2024 Championship Implications: A Tightening Title Race
Norris’s victory has significant implications for the championship. With his second win of the season, the McLaren driver has reduced Verstappen’s lead to 70 points, injecting fresh excitement into the title race. Verstappen remains the favorite, but Norris’s performance at Zandvoort has shown that the championship is far from decided.
As the season heads into its final stretch, the battle between McLaren and Red Bull is set to intensify. With just nine races remaining, every point will be crucial, and the rivalry between Norris and Verstappen promises to be one of the highlights of the season.
Dutch Grand Prix 2024: Race Result
The race unfolded with a dramatic turn of events as Lando Norris fought back from an early setback to secure a spectacular victory. Despite Max Verstappen’s impressive start and initial lead, Norris showcased his resilience and pace, overtaking Verstappen to claim the win with a dominant margin of 22.896 seconds.
Check the Dutch Grand Prix 2024 race result.
| Dutch Grand Prix 2024 Pos | No | Dutch Grand Prix 2024 Result: Driver | Car | Laps | Time/retired | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 72 | 1:30:45.519 | 26 |
| 2 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 72 | +22.896s | 18 |
| 3 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 72 | +25.439s | 15 |
| 4 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | 72 | +27.337s | 12 |
| 5 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | 72 | +32.137s | 10 |
| 6 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 72 | +39.542s | 8 |
| 7 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 72 | +44.617s | 6 |
| 8 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 72 | +49.599s | 4 |
| 9 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault | 71 | +1 lap | 2 |
| 10 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 71 | +1 lap | 1 |
| 11 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas Ferrari | 71 | +1 lap | 0 |
| 12 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | RB Honda RBPT | 71 | +1 lap | 0 |
| 13 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 71 | +1 lap | 0 |
| 14 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams Mercedes | 71 | +1 lap | 0 |
| 15 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine Renault | 71 | +1 lap | 0 |
| 16 | 2 | Logan Sargeant | Williams Mercedes | 71 | +1 lap | 0 |
| 17 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | RB Honda RBPT | 71 | +1 lap | 0 |
| 18 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas Ferrari | 71 | +1 lap | 0 |
| 19 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 70 | +2 laps | 0 |
| 20 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 70 | +2 laps | 0 |
Note: Norris earned an extra point by setting the fastest lap of the race, while Stroll was penalized with a five-second time penalty for speeding in the pit lane.
- Fastest Lap: Lando Norris (McLaren Mercedes) – 1:13.456
- Driver of the Day: Lando Norris
- Total Race Time: 1:38:42.012
- Pit Stops: Most drivers completed two pit stops, with some opting for a late third stop.
