In 2026, Circuit Zandvoort will host the last Dutch GP. After five spectacular race weekends and as many performances by home hero Max Verstappen, the event has grown into one of the highlights of the sports year and a world-famous folk festival. While we count down to the finale of the Dutch GP, we also look back at the previous editions. We go back to 2024: the year in which Lando Norris triumphed on behalf of McLaren.
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In 2024, Red Bull’s dominance ends and McLaren emerges as the dominant force in Formula 1. Lando Norris manages to utilize the pace of his MCL38 in Zandvoort as well and denies Verstappen his fourth consecutive pole at the Dutch circuit. However, a good start is not his specialty; amid deafening cheers from the stands, he is overtaken by Verstappen even before the first corner. Both Ferraris also have a good start and gain several positions.
Lando Norris unstoppable
Initially, Verstappen seems to pull away from his British rival, but as the laps progress, Norris manages to close the gap. On lap 17, he makes a first attempt to overtake the Dutchman, but to no avail. A lap later, he does claim the lead again. At Zandvoort, there is no match for the fast McLaren. Verstappen complains about a lack of grip, while Norris looks remarkably comfortable on his medium tires.
Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz is dealing with the midfield. The Ferrari driver started eleventh but has already worked his way up to seventh place. After 28 laps, Verstappen calls it quits and dives into the pit lane for fresh hard tires. A lap later, Norris follows his example, but despite a slower pit stop, he has enough margin to come back on track ahead of the Dutchman. Midway through the race, his lead is already nine seconds. Charles Leclerc, Oscar Piastri, and George Russell complete the top four at that moment.
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Max Verstappen: ‘Can’t win them all’
On lap 49, Hamilton opts for a two-stop strategy and fits soft tires under his Mercedes. Russell goes for the same strategy, hoping to outsmart Sergio Pérez’s Red Bull (P6). Meanwhile, Norris enjoys a lead of almost twenty seconds. Unthreatened, he drives to his first victory at Zandvoort and the second win of his career. Max Verstappen has to admit defeat for the first time on his home circuit. Leclerc completes the podium, followed by Piastri and Sainz.
“I can’t win them all,” Verstappen responds soberly. “Of course, I would have preferred to be in P1, but I’m still happy with second place. We tried everything today, but it was clear we weren’t fast enough. So I was already aiming for second place.”
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Read everything about the Dutch GP in Zandvoort here
