Norris dissects the ‘move that won me’ the final Dutch GP
Lando Norris won the Dutch Grand Prix with two decisive overtakes, securing McLaren’s second victory of the season and closing the gap to the championship leaders.
Lando Norris claimed victory at the Dutch Grand Prix after overcoming a mid-race deficit to pass Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton in a pair of late overtakes. The McLaren driver started from pole but lost the lead following a red-flag restart caused by Max Verstappen’s crash. Norris then spent much of the race behind Antonelli before seizing his opportunity on Lap 54 to retake the lead and hold on for the win. He described the race as one of his best performances, citing strong pace and strategic execution as key factors in the triumph.
Norris attributed his victory to a single, high-risk move into Turn 1 on Lap 54, where he executed a bold outside pass on Antonelli. He adjusted his brake balance to commit fully to the braking zone, exploiting a moment when Hamilton’s defensive line left space. Norris acknowledged the narrow window for success, stating that every lap behind Antonelli reduced his chances of overtaking. The win marked McLaren’s second consecutive victory, following Norris’ success in Hungary, and highlighted the team’s recent performance improvements.
McLaren’s recent upgrades have propelled the team closer to the front of the field, with Norris now fourth in the championship standings, just 24 points behind Hamilton and George Russell. The team’s upward trajectory has raised the possibility of a championship challenge, though Norris emphasized focusing on incremental progress rather than long-term ambitions. He praised the team’s collective effort and expressed satisfaction with delivering back-to-back wins, while stressing the need for continued improvement to close the gap to the leaders.
Norris dismissed speculation about a championship comeback, insisting on concentrating on one race at a time. He acknowledged the challenges ahead but remained optimistic about McLaren’s potential, citing the team’s strong recent form. Norris also highlighted the importance of learning from each race and maintaining a relentless work ethic to sustain their momentum. With several races remaining, he framed the championship as still highly competitive and urged patience while continuing to push for further gains.