4 hours ago
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Lando Norris claimed pole position for the Dutch Grand Prix, producing a mighty lap at Zandvoort to beat the Mercedes of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli into second and third place, coming back at the last to seal the top spot against the odds.
Norris’s McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, was in fourth, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc in fifth and sixth for Ferrari and Max Verstappen in seventh for Red Bull.
Norris’s pace and control was quite something, doubly so since he had railed against how much the car was struggling for pace after he managed only third in the sprint race on Saturday, which was won by Russell. Indeed, Norris described it as the “best lap of my life”, apparently in reference to how the car was not at its best.
For Norris this was another affirmation that he has not yet surrendered his title and that McLaren can still be in the fight with Mercedes, notably after he also took pole and victory at the last round in Hungary.
Their car development has been ferocious and, most importantly, effective, including another swathe of developments brought here, fulfilling the expectations of the team principal, Andrea Stella, whose calm assurance at the helm has been a striking piece of management as the team adjusted to the new regulations.
It is Norris’s second pole at the Dutch GP and the 18th of his career, while for McLaren it is another strong result at the circuit. With Piastri winning here last year and Norris in 2024, they may well make it three in a row.
On the final hot runs in Q3 Norris set an early marker with a 1min 11.344sec lap, as strong a circuit as he had produced all weekend and those in his wake could not match it. Russell was closest, but more than a tenth down and Antonelli only fifth.
Norris had the advantage and with rain threatening a banker already on the board, as they swiftly exited to put in another run before the weather turned. Antonelli led the way as the rain did begin to spit and he was improving enough to top the time sheets but Russell was immense through the first sector as well. Behind them, however, Norris had even more to come, and improved on what had already been a huge effort, to seal pole with a 1:11.263 run, a tenth up on Russell and Antonelli.
After Russell took victory in the sprint and Antonelli finished fourth, the Briton now trails his teammate by 56 points in third place in the championship, with Hamilton 53 points back in second place.
Russell’s win was confident and convincing earlier in the day, albeit in a contest that was uninspiring and largely processional. After he had held his lead from pole he controlled the race as the leaders lapped with little movement, line astern. Indeed, there were only two changes of position in the top 10 during the 24 laps.
Antonelli up to fourth and Leclerc to second were the two moves, with Leclerc passing a struggling Norris late in the race. The McLaren had not been at its best and Norris was left bemoaning his chances for the weekend and of his title defence, before he pulled it out of the bag in qualifying.
“We don’t have the pace in general, slow-speed corners we struggle so much compared to others. There is nothing we can do,” he said. “The car is very good in high-speed and nowhere near good enough in slow-speed. The upgrades have all worked and they allowed me to be P3 today but we need more if we want to be fighting for a championship.”
Russell did exactly what was required, after a difficult run inthe previous three meetings, enjoying a pace and balance that left him unchallenged at the front of the field, from where he executed with precision, for his third sprint race win this season.
He has been adamant that he remains in the title fight with his teammate and that despite some bad luck he can beat the Italian. “The results haven’t been there but I think the underlying performance hasn’t been as bad as results have shown,” he said.
“When it comes to driving, just not thinking too much when I’m in the car and just trying to drive as fast as possible, really, and trusting my instincts of what the car balance needs.”
