In a stunning display of skill and speed, Lando Norris of McLaren dominated the Dutch Grand Prix, securing his second Formula One victory of the season and ending Max Verstappen’s unbeaten record at his home race. Despite losing the lead at the start, Norris showcased remarkable composure and pace, overtaking Verstappen on lap 18 and never looking back.Norris crossed the finish line with a commanding lead of 22.896 seconds, marking the largest winning margin of the season. This victory not only demonstrated McLaren’s improved performance but also narrowed Verstappen’s championship lead to 70 points, with McLaren now trailing Red Bull by just 30 points in the constructor’s standings.’It feels amazing. I wouldn’t say a perfect race, because of lap one again, but afterwards it was beautiful. The pace was very strong, the car was unbelievable today,’ Norris commented after the race. The British driver also praised his team’s recent upgrades, which have consistently improved the car’s performance.Verstappen, who finished second, acknowledged issues with his car’s performance, saying, ‘We’re not fast enough and I’m happy to be second today. The starts are good and today was like that. Then I focused on my race and that brought me to second place’. This marks Verstappen’s fifth consecutive race without a win, his longest winless streak since 2020.The result has intensified the championship battle, with Norris now just eight points behind Verstappen. McLaren’s strong showing, including Oscar Piastri’s fourth-place finish, has also reignited their constructor’s championship hopes.As the Formula One circus moves to Monza for the Italian Grand Prix, all eyes will be on McLaren to see if they can maintain this momentum and further challenge Red Bull’s dominance.
Key points
- Lando Norris won the Dutch Grand Prix, ending Max Verstappen’s unbeaten home record.
- Norris’s victory has narrowed Verstappen’s championship lead to 70 points.
- McLaren has closed the gap to Red Bull in the constructor’s championship to just 30 points.
- Verstappen has now gone five races without a win, his longest winless streak since 2020.
- The next race at Monza could be crucial for the ongoing championship battle.
