Lando Norris insists he has been in a title combat with Max Verstappen all season lengthy after victory on the Dutch Grand Prix noticed the McLaren driver near inside 70 factors of the reigning world champion.
Pole-sitter Norris recovered from dropping his lead on the primary lap to complete nearly 23 seconds forward of Pink Bull’s Verstappen at Zandvoort and declare the second grand prix win of his profession, after the Miami Grand Prix in Could.
Verstappen triumphed in seven of the primary 10 grands prix of 2024 however has received not one of the final 5 and solely completed on the rostrum twice in that point.
Norris – who additionally gained an additional level for setting the quickest lap within the Netherlands in his upgraded automotive – mentioned of competing for the Drivers’ Championship: “I’ve been fighting for it since the first race of the year.
“There is not any sudden determination of ‘now I have to do higher’. I have been working laborious the entire 12 months.”
Including to Sky Sports activities F1, the 24-year-old mentioned: “I have had the car for a while, that is obvious. It has been phenomenal. I wouldn’t say we have been the best since Miami but on average we have been.”
Norris not wanting too far forward
Norris, who might be aiming to chop Verstappen’s benefit additional at subsequent weekend’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza, mentioned within the post-race press convention he wouldn’t get carried away with McLaren’s development and can take the season “one race at a time”.
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Sky Sports activities F1’s Anthony Davidson analyses why Norris had a sluggish begin at Zandvoort
He added: “I’m still 70 points behind Max, so it’s pretty stupid to think of anything at the minute. I am taking it one race at a time. There’s no point thinking about the rest.
“I do not care on the minute. It is not a query I have to get requested each single weekend.”
On the hefty gap between himself and second-placed Verstappen in Zandvoort, Norris said: “I believed Max can be faster than he was.
“It seemed like he was the outlier as he dropped all the way back to the Ferraris, which was a surprise.”
Brown: Now we have enjoyable stuff coming for Monza
McLaren CEO Zak Brown, whose workforce now path Pink Bull by simply 30 factors within the Constructors’ Championship, was “pleasantly surprised” by Norris’ dominance however expects Pink Bull to reply at Monza.
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McLaren CEO Zak Brown says Norris was in charge of the Dutch GP however they should preserve their ft on the bottom after the convincing win
Brown mentioned: “We knew we were fast all weekend, so I am not shocked at the size of the gap, just pleasantly surprised. Lando definitely controlled the race.
“The upgrades clearly labored however we have to preserve our ft on the bottom with how aggressive Components 1 is and never assume that’s going to be repeated each weekend.
“We clearly have a fast car and have some fun stuff coming for Monza, so I think we will be ready. But I think Red Bull will be quick there.”
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Try how Norris regained the lead from Verstappen at Zandvoort
McLaren workforce principal Andrea Stella added: “It’s beyond expectations. We knew the car was performing well but today was a positive surprise in terms of how fast it was.
“The upgrades for this weekend have put us in a robust and thrilling place for the longer term. Let’s have a look at if it is sufficient to be the most effective automotive at each single venue. That is the target.
“We are fighting Red Bull. They have been dominant in previous seasons. For us, it’s exciting to be in this position and it looks like we have the performance to give it a go.”
The 2024 Components 1 season continues with the Italian Grand Prix at Monza subsequent weekend, dwell on Sky Sports activities F1.
