Norrisexpresses his regret at Verstappen's absence during Norris's home race event.
Is Max Verstappen set to struggle at his home race in Zandvoort, with Lando Norris pushing hard in qualifying for the Dutch Grand Prix? Lewis Hamilton's in a grumpy mood.
Narrowly grabbing the pole position and outsmarting Max Verstappen, Lando Norris remained surprisingly modest. "I'm not expecting a walk in the park, lots of uncertainties," stated the McLaren driver, ready to take on first place in the Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday (15:00 on RTL, Sky, and in the live ticker on ntv.de): "It's all about the car and the weather - but I'm hoping to build on my past performances." His advantage over the frustrated Verstappen? Over three-tenths of a second. Shocking, admitted Norris, "I was a bit taken aback by the gap." Satisfied but not thrilled, Verstappen acknowledged the second spot. "I'll give it my all. But if you're more than three-tenths behind, you gotta be realistic," said the Dutch driver before his home race in Zandvoort: "I gave it my best, and I'm happy to start from the front row."
Zandvoort's racetrack on the Dutch North Sea coast is tight and offers limited chances for overtaking. A good starting position is crucial. Verstappen, though, might face an extension of his winless streak. He's yet to win any of the past four races, and his lead in the championship over Norris currently amounts to 78 points. Oscar Piastri from Australia will start third in the second McLaren, followed by George Russell from the UK in the Mercedes.
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All powerless against Norris, whose lead over Verstappen before the 15th of 24 season races is 78 points, Norris commented, "My last lap in qualifying was hands down the best this weekend." "The car's strong, I feel great, and I'm comfortable in this position."
But Norris should stay on his toes: He's made several mistakes at the start this season and compromised a better outcome early on. "Max is gonna give me a run for my money, especially at his home track," said Norris: "But I'm looking forward to it."
Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko has already added to the pressure. "Lando's not exactly the strongest at the start, that's a hope," he said on Sky, before adding with force, "We're still in the game." However, he also acknowledged, "McLaren is dominating right now, we need to come up with something."
For Lewis Hamilton, qualifying was a major bummer. The seven-time world champion finished a dismal 12th in the Mercedes. Nico Hülkenberg in the Haas finished 14th, but at least, the German veteran once again outperformed his Danish teammate Kevin Magnussen, who finished 15th.
In the midst of the Dutch Grand Prix qualifying, Charles Leclerc from Ferrari set an impressive lap time, securing the fourth position, just behind George Russell. After Verstappen, Norris, and Piastri, Leclerc has a chance to challenge the top three during the race.
Come Sunday, the tight Zandvoort racetrack could present an opportunity for strategical overtaking, and Leclerc, known for his aggressive racing style, is eager to capitalize on any chances.
