Just In: Dutch Grand Prix: Follow Live Action as Norris Leads Verstappen and… Full Details 👇
Dutch Grand Prix: Follow Live Action as Norris Leads Verstappen and… Full Details 👇
The 2024 Dutch Grand Prix is poised for an exciting showdown, with Lando Norris and Max Verstappen sharing the front row of the grid for the fourth time this season. Norris will start the race from pole position, making this one of his best opportunities to challenge Verstappen’s dominance on the Zandvoort circuit. The pair will go head-to-head into the first corner, with Norris looking to capitalize on his qualifying success, while Verstappen aims to maintain his winning streak at his home Grand Prix. The big question is: who will take victory at Zandvoort?
Max Verstappen, who has been unbeatable at Zandvoort since the Dutch Grand Prix returned to the Formula 1 calendar in 2021, saw his perfect record broken this weekend. Prior to 2024, Verstappen had consistently taken pole position and won the race every year. However, in the final lap of qualifying, it was Lando Norris who delivered a stunning performance, beating Verstappen by more than three-tenths of a second to claim pole.
Despite missing out on pole, Verstappen remains a formidable opponent, especially at a track where he has always excelled. The Red Bull Racing driver will be determined to continue his winning run at Zandvoort, and Norris, aware of this, will feel the pressure from the three-time World Champion as soon as the lights go out.
Norris, who has acknowledged that his race starts haven’t been as strong as they need to be, is hoping to improve in this area. He pointed to his starts in recent races, such as the Hungarian Grand Prix, where he felt he lost the race at the first corner, and the Belgian Grand Prix before the summer break, where he faced similar challenges. Norris has been working hard to address this weakness and will need to be at his best to hold off Verstappen.
While Norris has an outside chance of beating Verstappen in the World Championship, every point is crucial for McLaren. They will also be relying on Oscar Piastri, who starts from a competitive position, to help them in their quest to close the gap to Red Bull in the Constructors’ Championship. Meanwhile, Sergio Perez, who starts from P5, could also play a significant role in the outcome of the race.
George Russell, starting from P4, will have to fight at the front without the support of his Mercedes teammate, Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton had a tough qualifying session, failing to progress beyond Q2 and then receiving a grid penalty for impeding Sergio Perez. This leaves Russell with the task of representing Mercedes at the sharp end of the grid.
The weather has been a mixed bag throughout the weekend at Zandvoort. Friday’s free practice sessions were affected by rain and strong winds, with FP1 seeing particularly tricky conditions. However, the weather improved for FP2, which was dry, although the wind continued to pose challenges for the drivers. Qualifying on Saturday took place under dry and sunny skies, but rain later returned to disrupt the F1 Academy race.
Looking ahead to race day, the forecast is for dry and sunny conditions, making it the best day of weather across the weekend. Temperatures are expected to reach around 18°C, providing ideal conditions for racing. However, the wind remains a factor, with speeds predicted to be around 18 mph, which could still impact the drivers’ performances.
As the drivers prepare for the start of the Dutch Grand Prix, all eyes will be on Norris and Verstappen as they battle it out for victory at Zandvoort. With the potential for unpredictable weather and the pressure of the championship fight, the stage is set for an exciting race. Stay tuned to GPblog for live updates and all the key moments as they unfold.
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