Lando Norris won the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix. Max Verstappen followed behind in P2 while Charles Leclerc rounded the podium off in P3.
[adrotate banner=”8″]
Get 10% off all official F1 Merch at TheRaceWorks.com using code ‘EF1‘ at checkout.
Round 15 of the F1 season welcomed the grid to the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix. Lando Norris and Max Verstappen locked out the front row. Oscar Piastri and George Russell were set to begin right behind them.
Lewis Hamilton was to start P14 following a three-place grid drop. Stewards concluded that he impeded Sergio Pérez in Qualifying. After Alex Albon was disqualified for an illegal floor, he was to begin P19. Kevin Magnussen was to start from the pit lane after Haas changed PU elements on his car following Qualifying.
Lap 1-15
Verstappen led into the first corner. Norris dropped to second while Piastri dropped to fourth. Russell eased into third. Norris is now 0-6 for converting P1 on the grid into leading on the opening lap.
By Lap 2, Hamilton had already made two places and was P12. Verstappen led Norris by nine tenths of a second. On Lap 3, he extended his lead to 1.6s.
While Red Bull and McLaren seemingly had pace, Russell’s Mercedes did not. Lap 4 saw Piastri all over the back of Russell in the battle for third place. He soon began to hold up the Australian, Leclerc, and Pérez.
The gap between Verstappen and Norris soon stabilised by Lap 6. It could have been presumed that both drivers were managing their pace and tyres.
On Lap 7, Magnussen went through the gravel at the first corner. Piastri also was out of DRS range by 1.2s behind Russell.
After being knocked out of Q2 in Qualifying, Sainz and Hamilton were beginning to make further moves to maximise their points earned this weekend. On Lap 9, Sainz moved on Alonso and sat in P8. Lap 10 saw Hamilton head past Hülkenberg. Lap 11 was when Sainz passed Gasly for P7.
Albon was the first driver to pit on Lap 13 for a fresh set of hard tyres. He was disqualified from Qualifying for an illegal floor that saw him begin P19 ahead of Magnussen who started from the pit lane.
Verstappen reported tyre problems on Lap 14. He reported that his car was not turning at Turn 10. While Red Bull battled that issue, Mercedes entered the points with Hamilton. The Briton passed Stroll for P10. Tsunoda and Hülkenberg also entered the pit lane.
Lap 16-30
Norris was all over Verstappen on Lap 17. The Dutchman once again reported tyre trouble. The Briton soon led the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix on Lap 18. He overtook Verstappen into the first corner.
However, Norris was not breaking away from the Red Bull driver. Verstappen still had DRS and was around eight tenths of a second behind the McLaren driver on Lap 20.
On Lap 21 he lost DRS. He was now 1.4s behind Norris. It was this lap that Hamilton overtook Alonso for P9 also.
Red Bull were beginning to struggle by Lap 22. Verstappen fell behind Norris by 2.3s. Pérez was also starting to struggle in P6. This was good news for Leclerc who was now all over the back of Piastri. He could not find a way past.
Hamilton pitted on Lap 24 from P9. He swapped his soft tyres for a set of hards. He re-joined in P16. Leclerc then pitted after. He also chose Hards, which meant that McLaren were left to rethink their strategy.
Piastri did not pit at the end of Lap 25. Russell did and was now behind Leclerc. Despite this, McLaren were flying. Norris led Verstappen by almost five seconds. His teammate was also posting good lap times, which looked to be enough to protect his position from Leclerc.
Verstappen pitted at the end of Lap 27. He was also on a set of hard tyres. This suggested a one-stop for the home race hero. He re-joined P5 and was 2.3s ahead of Leclerc in P7.
Norris followed this lead and pitted at the end of Lap 29. He also went for a set of hard tyres. While it was not a quick stop, he re-joined in P4 ahead of Verstappen. Pérez re-joined in P9. Sainz then re-joined in P9 and was right behind Perez.
Lap 31-45
On Lap 32, Piastri was the race leader. He was yet to pit. Norris was catching quickly and so McLaren decided to pit the Australian. He re-joined P5.
Norris reclaimed the lead of the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix. These nine drivers followed: Verstappen, Leclerc, Russell, Piastri, Pérez, Sainz, Hamilton, Hülkenberg, and Magnussen. Magnussen was yet to pit.
On Lap 35, Gasly was noted for an unsafe release. He started to leave his pit box while an Alpine pit crew member had their hand on his car. There was no further investigation for the Frenchman.
The FIA had their hands full. Lap 38 saw Stroll enter investigation for speeding in the pit lane. He was given a five-second time penalty.
Lap 40 saw Piastri slide past Russell for P4. The McLaren driver had tyre life advantage and was beginning to set rapid lap times. Lap 42 saw competition heat up in the middle of the grid. Magnussen was overtaken by four drivers. Gasly was now P10 while Albon fell to P12. He was overtaken by Alonso while Magnussen finally pitted. He re-joined P19.
Sainz caught up to Pérez in the fight for P6. However, Pérez’s pace was not bad. He was quicker than Verstappen on Lap 44.
Lap 46-60
On Lap 47, Sainz finally overtook Pérez into the first corner for P6. He was 2.8s behind Russell in P5. For the Mexican driver, he had Hamilton 5.6s behind.
Hamilton pitted for a second time at the end of Lap 48. He went for another new set of soft tyres. He remained P8 and had fresher and faster tyres than those ahead.
Norris led Verstappen by nearly 14 seconds on Lap 51. This would be his second F1 victory. His teammate Piastri dropped out of DRS range of Leclerc. The Ferrari driver was 1.6s ahead despite the Australian’s tyres being nine laps fresher. Leclerc was just as fast as Norris.
Good news for Ferrari. Sainz caught Russell who headed to the pits for a second pit-stop. He was fitted with a set of old soft tyres. This was not the race Mercedes were hoping for after winning three out of the four final grands prix before summer shut down.
Sainz was P5 while Russell was ahead of Hamilton in P7. Russell was 19s behind Perez. At the front, Norris was 15.6s ahead of Verstappen. The Dutchman sat comfortably in P2, seven seconds ahead of Leclerc. Piastri still was yet to have DRS on the Monegasque.
Lap 59 highlighted that Mercedes’ alternative strategy could have proven worth it. Russell began to catch Pérez. The gap between the two was down to 12 seconds.
Lap 61-72
A move around the outside of the first corner by Gasly saw the Alpine driver overtake Hülkenberg for P9. The German driver was out of the points after being overtaken by Alonso on Lap 64.
Russell’s charge slowed on Lap 66. The gap to Pérez ahead stabilised at 8.5s. Hamilton was one-second behind his teammate.
On the penultimate lap Norris set a 20s lead from Verstappen in P2. It also looked as if Leclerc has done enough for a podium, something Ferrari were not expecting this weekend.
2024 Dutch Grand Prix
Lando Norris is your 2024 Dutch Grand Prix winner. He is now a two-time Grand Prix winner. Rounding off the podium was home hero Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc.
Fireworks greet Norris as he crosses the line 20 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen in second place. Charles Leclerc takes the final podium spot 🎇#F1 #DutchGP pic.twitter.com/OmMcDP6g2d
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 25, 2024
The Briton also gained the fastest lap point on the final lap. In the Drivers’ Championship, he now sits 70 points behind Verstappen. The title fight is on.
The Italian Grand Prix at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza begins August 29-September 1.
Image Credit: McLaren Racing Media Center
[adrotate banner=”8″]
Get 10% off all official F1 Merch at TheRaceWorks.com using code ‘EF1‘ at checkout.