Charles Leclerc delivered an impressive performance at the Dutch Grand Prix, climbing from sixth on the grid to finish third, salvaging a podium for Ferrari after a challenging weekend. The race, held at Zandvoort, saw McLaren’s Lando Norris take a statement victory, denying Max Verstappen a fourth consecutive home win.
Starting from pole, Norris initially lost the lead when Verstappen got the jump at the start and moved ahead at the first corner. Verstappen then pulled away, breaking free of Norris and the DRS window. However, as the race progressed, Norris found another level of pace, particularly as the Dutch driver struggled with grip during a mid-stint phase. Norris closed the gap and eventually reclaimed the lead, which he extended through the pit stops and held until the checkered flag, finishing 20 seconds clear of the home favourite.
While Norris dominated at the front, Leclerc was steadily making his way up the field. Starting from sixth, the Ferrari driver managed to avoid the chaos of the midfield and steadily gained positions. By the time the front-runners pitted, Leclerc had moved into a strong position, ultimately securing third place and a much-needed podium for Ferrari.
Leclerc’s performance was a bright spot in an otherwise tough weekend for Ferrari, who also saw Carlos Sainz finish fifth, boosting their points haul. Oscar Piastri, in the second McLaren, finished fourth after an extended opening stint cost him track position.
Behind Sainz, Sergio Perez’s Red Bull took sixth, followed by the Mercedes duo of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, who opted for late pit stops to try and set the fastest lap. The race also saw Pierre Gasly finish ninth, giving Alpine something to celebrate under new team boss Oliver Oakes, whileFernando Alonso took the final point for Aston Martin after a late-race battle with Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg.
The next stop on the 2024 Formula 1 calendar will be the Italian Grand Prix, with the paddock heading south to Monza for the second round of this double header on Sunday, September 1.
Featured image courtesy of @ScuderiaFerrari on X
