Formula 1 News: Lando Norris’s Daring Move Secures Extra Point and Closes Gap on Verstappen
In a thrilling turn of events at the Dutch Grand Prix, Lando Norris’s bold decision to push for the fastest lap on the final lap has sent shockwaves through the Formula 1 paddock. The young Brit’s move not only secured an additional point but also reignited his title hopes, closing the gap on championship leader Max Verstappen by eight points.
Norris, driving for McLaren, dominated Sunday’s race at Zandvoort, recovering from a poor start to surge past early leader Verstappen and take a commanding victory with a massive winning margin – the largest seen in Formula 1 this year. However, the 23-year-old’s true pace was only revealed on the final lap, where he unleashed a blistering 1m13.817s lap on well-used hard tyres, snatching the fastest lap point away from Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton.
“In general, McLaren were clearly superior, underlined by the fastest lap without DRS on the very last lap, at 1:13.8. We can only dream of a time like that,” – Helmut Marko, Red Bull motorsport advisor.
What’s more remarkable is that Norris made the call to push for the fastest lap alone, unaware to his McLaren team. In fact, the pit wall would have likely advised against the move, highlighting Norris’s confidence in his car and his driving abilities.
Norris attributed his success to his car’s improving pace throughout the race, which allowed him to pull away from Verstappen. “I think from quite early on, actually, from probably lap five, six, seven, I expected Max to start pushing and get a bit of a gap, and he never did,” Norris explained. “So, from that point, I knew we were in with a good fight. He seemed to just keep dropping off, and my pace was getting better.”
The extra point earned by Norris’s daring move has brought him closer to Verstappen in the drivers’ championship, making the title race even more intense with nine races remaining. Will Norris’s McLaren continue to challenge the dominance of Red Bull? Only time will tell. Stay tuned for more Formula 1 news and updates.
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