Lando Norris delivered the first blow to his rivals at the Dutch Grand Prix. The British driver was unstoppable in the qualifiers, earning him the pole position for Sunday’s race. Max Verstappen, over three-tenths slower, will start next to him on the grid. Oscar Piastri rounds out the top three.
With Norris’s pole and Piastri’s third place, McLaren continues its post-summer break momentum, during which the MCL38 proved to be the fastest car on the track. This marks Norris’s fourth career pole, following Spain and Hungary, and his third in 2024. “It’s fantastic to be back in the car and start the post-summer break with a pole,” Norris says.
Note: All times mentioned are in UST.
Hamilton’s Reflection and Strategy for Upcoming Races
The British racer has taken time during the holiday for introspection, contemplating how he can mentally improve to further pursue Max Verstappen in the last ten races for the world title. To challenge the world champion, he will need to be the first through the first corner, the Tarzan corner, in Zandvoort. In Spain and Hungary, Norris did not succeed in this. However, he trusts his skills at the North Sea.
Support from MCL38 and Team
Norris is supported by the MCL38, which can handle the dune circuit. “We have had some upgrades for the first time in a long time and they are working fine,” says Norris, who is 78 points behind Verstappen in the world championship. “The team has done a great job.” Especially the last, decisive qualifying round proved to be good. “With these treacherous weather conditions, it’s harder than it looks,” the Brit states. “Every round is different, you don’t know what to expect and where the limit is.”
Looking Ahead
As usual, Norris does not wish to get too far ahead of things. He faces a tough task tomorrow to convert the pole into a victory. “It will be tough, Max is and remains fast. We got him today, but it will be an intense fight at his home race with the support of the fans.”
