Race Notes - Norris takes second in a row

By Mark Karp

Lando Norris in his McLaren-Mercedes came back from the summer break with some performance upgrades, to win the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort.

After taking pole, Antonelli took the lead into the first corner, and Norris had to fight he way back for the win.

Kimi Antonelli in his Mercedes GP finished second, 11.536 seconds behind, and George Russell finished third, 15.906 seconds behind the winner.

The win is Norris’ second win of the season, and 13th of his career.

Antonelli on the cool down lap

said, “our strategy was too risky”

Antonelli (242) extends his lead in the Drivers’ Championship to an equal 59 points over Russell (183) and Hamilton (183), Norris (159) and Leclerc (155).

In the Constructors’ Championship Mercedes (425) leads Ferrari (338), McLaren-Mercedes (263), Red Bull-Ford (186) and Racing Bulls-Ford (66).

Lewis Hamilton (16.755s) in the Ferrari finished fourth, followed by his team mate Charles Leclerc (17.258s), Oscar Piastri (32.332s) in the second McLaren was sixth, Liam Lawson (1m19.915s) in the Red Bull-Ford was seventh, Nico Hulkenberg (1 Lap) in the Audi was eighth, Fernando Alonso in the Aston Martin-Honda was ninth, and Pierre Gasly in the Alpine-Mercedes took the final point in tenth place.

Before the start with rain showers on and off, and it being slippery but drying as the start approaches.

Norris on pole, with Russell alongside on row 1, Antonelli and Piastri on row 2, Hamilton and Leclerc on row 3, Verstappen and Lawson on row 4, and Bortoleto and Lindblad rounding on the top 10. The front four on mediums, the next four, the Ferrari’s and Red Bull’s starting on soft tyres.

As the formation lap starts, the conditions are drying but a slippery surface.

The drivers line up on the grid, and the lights go out. Norris gets off the line first, Antonelli gets past Russell for second as Russell spins his wheels off the line. Leclerc gets a quick start and gets up to fourth, Piastri is fifth, Hamilton soutto sixth. Lawson, Lindblad and Gasly round out the top ten.

Coming out the the last corner banking Verstappen touches the slippery white line on the inside, and slides out and crashes into the wall. Verstappen is out, and the red flag is out. The cars come are and line up in the pitlane,

Vertappen is okay and gets out of the car.

Under red flag Norris leads, with Antonelli, Russell, Leclerc, Piastri, Hamilton, Lawson, Lindblad, Gasly, and Colapinto in tenth, Tsunoda, Hulkenberg, Ocon, Albon, Alonso, Bear,am. Stroll, Bortoleto, Sainz, Perez and Bottas in 22nd place.

The 10-minute warning is signaled and the weather is warming and drying.

As the drivers took to the track for the restart, and Norris, Leclerc, Hamilton, and Lawson on soft tyres. Antonelli, Russell, Lindblad and Gasly on mediums, and Piastri on hard tyres.

The cars come around on the formation lap, and Bearman pulls to the side of the track. The yellow flags are out, and the cars are sent around for another formation lap.

Norris comes and lines up on pole, and the rest of the cars line up on the grid, the lights go out and the race restarts with Norris leading, but Antonelli gets down the inside and takes the lead, Piastri passes Russell and takes third on hard tyres, Russell in fourth followed by Leclerc, Hamilton, Lawson, Gasly, Hulkenberg and Colapinto in tenth.

On lap 8 Antonelli leads Norris by under a second, Piastri 3.5 seconds further behind.

On lap 9 Antonelli sets fast lap at 1m16.552s.

On lap 14 Russell in fourth has the two Ferrari’s on Leclerc and Hamilton right behind.

On lap 15 Norris tells the team to stick on their original ‘plan A’.

On lap 17 Russell pits from fourth and changes to hard tyres.

The next lap Piastri pits from third with a slow for hard. Russell rejoins sixth, Piastri seventh. Russell sets fast lap at 1m15.182s.

On lap 22 Antonelli pits from the lead for hard tyres and rejoins second.

Norris, Leclerc and Lawson pits as well. Norris on hard tyres and rejoins third.

On lap 23 Hamilton leads with Antonelli, Norris, Russell, Piasti and Leclerc in sixth, who sets fast lap at 1m15.789s.

Antonelli is running 2 seconds faster a lap than Hamilton 22 lap used soft tyres.

On lap 26 Hamilton pits from the lead and takes on hard tyres and rejoins sixth behind Leclerc.

On lap 27 Hulkenberg passes Lindblad for tenth.

Norris is running one second behind Antonelli.

On lap 29 Tsunoda passes Gasly forr 12th.

On lap 29 Hamilton sets fast lap at 1m15.514s, and follows 5.3 seconds behind Leclerc.

At lap 30 Antonelli leads Norris by 0.8 seconds, followed by Russell (7.8s), Piastri (9.8s), Leclerc (10.5s), Hamilton (15.0s), Lawson (32.6s), Alonso (49.3s) on 29 lap old soft tyres, Hulkenberg (56.0s), and Tsunoda (1m00.8s) in tenth.

On lap 34 Lerclerc battles with Piastri and takes fourth place.

On lap 35 Hamilton passes Piastri as well for fifth. Alonso pits from eight for hard tyres, and rejoins 13th.

On lap 36 Antonelli and Norris are passes back traffic and their gap is varying.

At lap 38, just past halfway, Antonelli leads Norris by 1.0 seconds, followed by Russell (9.0s), Leclerc (10.7s), Hamilton (13.1s), Piastri (18.4s), Lawson (35.8s), Hulkenberg (1m00.5s), Tsunoda (1m08.7s), and Gasly (1m14.7s) in tenth.

On lap 40 Antonelli laps Gasly in tenth.

On lap 41 leader Antonelli pits for hard tyres and rejoins fourth behind Hamilton. Russell pits as well for hard tyres and rejoins in sixth.

On lap 43 Hamilton is complaining that they he is being held up by Leclerc.

On lap 44 Leclerc pits for hard tyres and rejoins sixth

Russell sets fast lap at 1m15.415s.

Hamilton complains “big waste of time, good job”

On lap 45 Piastri pits for soft tyres and rejoins seventh.

Leclerc sets fast lap at 1m15.396s.

On lap 46 Norris leads Hamilton by 10.7s, and Antonelli third 14.1s behind the leader.

Russell sets fast lap at 1m15.393s.

On lap 47 Norris pits for hard tyres and rejoins 5 seconds behind Antonelli.

Leclerc sets fast lap at 1m14.985s.

On lap 48 Hamilton leads Antonelli by 2.2 seconds.

On lap 49 Norris sets fast lap at 1m14.321s and trails Antonelli by1.9 seconds.

Ferrari is asking if Hamilton wants to switch to a medium tyres, a tyre he hasn’t run the weekend - Hamilton tells the team that they have the data as to what is happening.

On lap 52 Antonelli has Norris right behind, who has Russell just behind him.

On lap 53 Norris is looking to battle Antonelli, who is struggling on his tyres.

On lap 54 Hamilton running in the lead holds off Antonelli, but Norris passes Antonelli on the outside to take second. Later in the lap Norris gets by Hamilton on older tyres.

On lap 55 Antonelli gets past Hamilton. Ocon is stopped on the side of the track - the Virtual Safety car is deployed.

Hamilton Lecelerc and Piastri all pit, all for soft tyres

The next lap Antonelli pits from second for soft tyres.

On lap 57 the virtual safety is over. Norris leads Russell by 6.5 seconds, with Antonelli in third, 12.3s behind. Hamilton, Leclerc, and Piastri following them.

At lap 65, with 7 laps remaining, Norris leads Russell by 10.4 seconds, followed by Antonelli (12.4s), Hamilton (14.8s), Leclerc (19.3s), Piastri (34.1s), Lawson (1m01.6s), Hulkenberg (1 Lap), Alonso, and Gasly in tenth.

lOn lap 65 Antonelli is right behind his team mate, Mercedes sends Russell a message to let Antonelli past, Russell asks if he will be able to make a challenge to Norris, not pleased.

On lap 66 Russell lets him past into second place.

Hamilton closes on Russell.

On lap 69 Hamilton looks to pass Russell on the inside of turn one but can’t get it.

The Virtual Safety car is out for debris on the track. Sainz and Albon had come together.

On lap 70 Hamilton is looking for a way onto the podium.

On lap 72 Norris takes the checked flag for the win, Antonelli second, and holds on for third.