In a thrilling turn of events at the Dutch Grand Prix, McLaren's Lando Norris snatched victory from Red Bull's Max Verstappen, breaking the Dutch driver's unbeaten streak at Zandvoort. Norris, securing the second win of his Formula One career, injects fresh momentum into the championship race.
Verstappen, Red Bull's three-time world champion, finished 22.896 seconds behind Norris after taking an early lead at the start. However, Norris overtook him on the 18th lap of the 72-lap race, showcasing McLaren's improved performance. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc claimed the third spot on the podium, climbing from sixth to third.
Since the event's return to the F1 calendar in 2021, Verstappen had been undefeated at Zandvoort. This race marks the fifth consecutive loss for the dominant driver this season, narrowing his lead over Norris to 70 points as the season reaches its 15th of a record 24 races.
\"It feels amazing. I wouldn't say a perfect race, because of lap one again, but afterwards it was beautiful. The pace was very strong, the car was unbelievable,\" Norris commented post-race. \"I could push and get past Max, which was the main thing, and just go from there. So quite a straightforward race. Still tough but very enjoyable.\"
Norris started on pole position for the fourth time in his career, converting his advantage into victory in front of the fervent \"Orange Army\" fans. Celebrating his win, Norris humorously used Verstappen's catchphrase over the radio, saying, \"Simply lovely.\"
Reference(s):
F1: Norris ends Verstappen's unbeaten home run with win at Dutch GP
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