Done Deal: Max Verstappen Has Signed Four Year Contract With………………..read more.

Done Deal: Max Verstappen Has Signed Four Year Contract With………………..read more.

Lando Norris secured his second Formula 1 victory with a commanding performance at the Dutch Grand Prix. Although he initially lost the lead to Max Verstappen at the start, Norris quickly regained it by overtaking the Dutchman on lap 18, ultimately winning by a comfortable 22-second margin. This win allowed Norris to narrow the gap in the Drivers’ Championship standings, reducing Verstappen’s lead to 70 points with nine races remaining in the 2024 season.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc impressed by finishing third after starting sixth on the grid, holding off Norris’ McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri for the final podium spot. Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz, Leclerc’s teammate, made an equally strong showing, climbing from 10th to finish fifth, ahead of Red Bull’s Sergio Perez.

Red Bull’s lead in the Constructors’ Championship has now been cut to 30 points, with McLaren gaining momentum heading into the Italian Grand Prix next weekend. Verstappen, who was previously cruising towards his fourth consecutive drivers’ title, has now gone five races without a victory, losing at his home race for the first time in four appearances.

Norris, who had struggled to convert pole positions into wins earlier in the season, finally claimed his second F1 victory. The dominant performance, aided by McLaren’s latest upgrades, has sparked hope that the Brit could still challenge Verstappen for the title.

Reflecting on the race, Norris said, “It feels amazing. I wouldn’t say it was a perfect race because of lap one again, but it was still beautiful. The pace was strong, the car was unbelievable. I could push and get past Max. It was a straightforward race—tough but enjoyable.”

George Russell, who started fourth, was hindered by a slow pit stop, causing him to finish seventh for Mercedes, while his teammate Lewis Hamilton managed only eighth after starting 14th due to a poor qualifying session. Pierre Gasly retained his starting position of ninth for Alpine, while Fernando Alonso rounded out the top 10 after dropping from seventh in another disappointing outing for Aston Martin.