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Lando Norris Secures Pole Position Over Max Verstappen at F1’s Dutch Grand Prix

Lando Norris Secures Pole Position Over Max Verstappen at F1’s Dutch Grand Prix

August 24, 2024

ZANDVOORT, Netherlands — Max Verstappen can be beaten at his home Dutch Grand Prix, after all.

Lando Norris produced a blistering lap to qualify on pole position ahead of the three-time world champion on Saturday. Next he’ll aim to end Verstappen’s winning streak on home soil in Sunday’s race, further cutting into the Dutch driver’s lead at the top of the overall standings.

Norris’ final lap was far ahead of anyone else’s pace, beating second-place Verstappen by .356 of a second.

Verstappen, who is heading into his 200th race on Sunday, had taken pole position and won all three of the races held at Zandvoort since the Dutch Grand Prix returned to the F1 schedule in 2021.

It was wet and windy for much of the race weekend — including rain in two of the three practice sessions — but it stayed dry for qualifying.

McLaren has brought new upgrades for its car and qualifying gave the latest indication it now has the edge on pace over the once all-conquering Red Bull.

Oscar Piastri was third-fastest in the second McLaren, ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell and Verstappen’s under-pressure Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez. Charles Leclerc was sixth for Ferrari.

There were two big surprises in the second part of qualifying as Carlos Sainz Jr. was 11th for Ferrari and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, who won the last race in Belgium, was 12th for Mercedes.

Logan Sargeant didn’t take part after a heavy crash in practice Saturday morning which left his Williams on fire.

In a thrilling qualifying session at the Dutch Grand Prix, McLaren’s Lando Norris shocked the Formula 1 world by securing pole position over championship leader Max Verstappen. The young British driver put in a stellar performance to edge out the Red Bull driver and claim his first ever pole position in Formula 1.

Norris has been in impressive form this season, consistently outperforming his more experienced teammate Daniel Ricciardo and proving himself as one of the rising stars of the sport. His qualifying lap at Zandvoort was nothing short of exceptional, as he pushed his McLaren to the limit and set a blistering time that Verstappen couldn’t match.

Verstappen, who was the favorite to take pole position on home soil, had to settle for second on the grid. The Dutch driver has been in scintillating form this season, winning races and challenging Mercedes for the championship lead. However, Norris’s performance in qualifying showed that he is a force to be reckoned with and capable of taking the fight to the front-runners.

The battle between Norris and Verstappen promises to be an exciting one in the race, with both drivers hungry for victory. The Dutch Grand Prix is always a special event on the calendar, with passionate fans and a challenging circuit that tests the drivers to their limits.

As the lights go out on race day, all eyes will be on Norris and Verstappen as they go head-to-head for victory. With Norris starting from pole position, he will have the advantage going into the race, but Verstappen will be determined to make up ground and secure a win in front of his home crowd.

The Dutch Grand Prix is shaping up to be a thrilling race, with Norris and Verstappen set to provide plenty of excitement for fans. With both drivers at the top of their game, it’s anyone’s guess who will come out on top in what promises to be a memorable event in the Formula 1 calendar.