2024-08-26 12:38:37
British driver Lando Norris, with McLaren, won the Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday, the fifteenth round of the championship, and dreams of fighting for the Formula 1 title. The podium was completed by Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari).
Norris had started from pole position, but had a very poor start and was quickly overtaken by Verstappen, the three-time world champion and current championship leader. Despite the initial setback, the Briton gradually gained seconds on the host driver, who was complaining about the lack of grip on his tyres. Thus, on the eighteenth lap he was able to regain first position, which he held until the end of the race.
The other podium places were occupied by Verstappen, who was slower than Norris throughout the race and was unable to challenge him, and Leclerc, who made a great recovery after starting in sixth position. Fourth place went to Australian Oscar Piastri (McLaren), who despite being very close to Leclerc in the last 30 laps was unable to overtake him.
Another driver who had a standout performance was Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), who started in 14th place and finished eighth. The other drivers who scored points were: Carlos Sainz Jr. (5th, Ferrari), Sergio Pérez (6th, Red Bull)), George Russell (7th, Mercedes)), Lewis Hamilton (8th), Pierre Gasly (9th, Alpine) and Fernando Alonso (10th, Aston Martin).
With this victory, the second of the season after the Miami GP, Norris has reduced the gap to Verstappen in the championship to 70 points and is hoping to give him a fight, although it seems like an almost impossible mission with only nine rounds left.
The next round of the championship will be the Italian GP, which will take place next weekend. The eleventh round of the Formula 2 championship will also be held there, in which the Argentine Franco Colapinto will be racing.
The Formula 1 championship standings are as follows: Verstappen is first with 295 points; Norris is second with 225; Leclerc is third with 192; Piastri is fourth with 179; and Sainz is fifth with 172.