Lando Norris clinched a well-deserved pole position at the Dutch Grand Prix after an intense showdown against Max Verstappen and teammate Oscar Piastri, who are set to start second and third respectively. Following Qualifying, the McLaren drivers admitted to the press that the Silverstone-based team would allow them to race each other freely.
Qualifying offered a brilliant prequel to Sunday’s expectations. The Q1 saw a flurry of activity, complicated by rain that increased the track’s evolution potential. Lewis Hamilton initially led the pack. Meanwhile, George Russell battled with a lack of grip.
By Q3, Norris had settled into his role and showed a commanding performance, setting a leading time of 1:10.074, with Piastri not far behind in P3.
Both McLaren drivers have since voiced their readiness and eagerness to convert their qualifying successes into a race victory.
Lando Norris discussed his recent efforts to polish his starts, traditionally his Achilles’ heel:
“I know my starts have not been my forte over the last probably… They’ve not been bad, honestly, I’m still up there with being one of the best average starters… I feel confident I put in a good amount of work to kind of try and make my starts a bit better. And tomorrow’s a new day.”
Oscar Piastri highlighted his aspirations to take the lead, signaling his intention not just to support but potentially to overshadow his teammate:
“I mean, if I can get myself into the lead, then that works well for me. But, yeah, I think the start is always a good opportunity to make up ground if you can… I want to try and win the race myself. And let’s see what I can try and do.”
McLaren has maintained a clear stance on team dynamics, highlighting a competitive yet respectful racing strategy between its two talented drivers.
“Yeah, the rules are very, very clear and haven’t changed,” said Piastri. “And yeah, we’re free to race each other to try and win. Of course, we’re in a Constructors’ Championship fight and we know that there’s a lot at stake for the team.
“But we’ve shown time and time again that we can race each other well, race each other cleanly. And yeah, we’re free to try and both win the race.
“And that’s not changed.”
Norris reiterated their mutual understanding.
“Oscar said it well. We’re free to race. There’s never been any rules apart from don’t crash into each other… We’ve raced well in the past. So that’s all good for us.”
With both Papaya drivers eyeing the top of the podium, Sunday promises to deliver a brilliant race.
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