At the domestic Orange Party event, Norris is physically dominating Verstappen.
Lando Norris dashed Max Verstappen's hopes of winning at his hometown race in Zandvoort. Norris, driving for McLaren, clinched a triumphant victory, marking his second win in Formula 1 despite a shaky start. Verstappen's streak of not clinching a victory continues.
Verstappen, who initially took the lead and had the chance to secure his fourth consecutive home victory, managed to minimize the damage with a second-place finish. He finished ahead of Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari, who surprisingly took third place. Oscar Piastri finished behind Verstappen. The Mercedes drivers, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, finished far from the podium this time.
Nico Hülkenberg came close to securing points, finishing 11th. Verstappen's teammate, Sergio Perez, who had speculations of being replaced during the summer break, finished sixth.
Verstappen's Celebrations Fall Short
Despite leading the championship after 15 races with a significant 70-point lead over Norris, Verstappen still has work to do. He failed to secure victory in his 200th Grand Prix.
Before the race, there were many discussions. Would Norris maintain his composure and make a good start this time? After all, Norris had started from the pole position three times before but had not been able to convert it into a win.
And indeed, Norris did not make a good start in the sunlight at Zandvoort. The Dutch crowd cheered as Verstappen took the lead into the long right-hand corner after the start. Verstappen initially managed to create a small gap over Norris, but couldn't pull away decisively.
Instead, Norris gradually closed the gap and put Verstappen under pressure. When he was within the DRS window, Norris seemed to easily overtake Verstappen. Verstappen tried to counter the move in lap 18 but had to back off.
Verstappen Benefits from Competitor's Moves
Even after the pit stops, the championship leader remained at the front and extended his lead. Piastri, who came in much later, put pressure on the competition with fresh tyres. He first overtook Russell, then struggled to find a way past Leclerc.
Piastri and Leclerc lost time in these maneuvers, which Verstappen benefited from. He could run his race relatively undisturbed in this phase - Norris was out of Verstappen's reach at the front, but there was no threat from behind.
Despite leading the Formula 1 championship, Verstappen's celebration at his hometown race in Zandvoort was cut short as Lando Norris, his rival, clinched a victorious win in his McLaren. This was Norris' second victory in Formula 1, and he managed to secure it despite a shaky start, proving his resilience in Formula 1 racing.
