McLaren’s Lando Norris powered to a dominant 22.9-second victory over Max Verstappen in this morning’s Dutch Grand Prix.
Having started from the pole, Norris was pressed early and fell behind the home driver at Turn 1. He remained with Verstappen over the following laps before making his move for the lead on Lap 18.
Once in front, Norris never looked back, putting nearly 23 seconds on the field en route to his second career victory.
The win, combined with a bonus point for the fastest lap, reduces Verstappen’s lead in the driver’s championship to 70 points with nine races remaining.
Charles Leclerc undercut George Russell and Oscar Piastri before fending off an extended period of pressure from the latter on his way to complete the podium.
Piastri was fourth home, ahead of Carlos Sainz, who recovered well from a Q2 exit that saw him start in the mid-field. Sainz made a series of crucial passes on his way to a top-five result, including on under-fire Red Bull driver Sergio Perez.
Perez made a stern defensive effort against Ferrari’s driver but ultimately could not hold off his challenge.
His sixth-place result brings McLaren to within 30 points of Red Bull in the World Constructor’s Championship with nine races remaining.
George Russell, who had been running in the top five, made a late gamble to switch to softs, which cost him places to Sainz and Perez. While he made good ground over the final laps on the pair, he ran out of time and was forced to settle for seventh.
Lewis Hamilton overcame a Q2 elimination and a grid penalty for impeding Perez to finish eighth, the last car on the lead lap.
Pierre Gasly and Fernando Alonso completed the top ten. Daniel Ricciardo was the best-placed RB driver, finishing 12th.
Formula 1 returns with the Italian Grand Prix at Monza next weekend.
