Norris discloses his in-race reaction to Verstappen’s start: ‘Knew he’d go for it’

At the start of the Dutch Grand Prix, Lando Norris claims to have gotten a better start, which nevertheless proved unfruitful due to Oscar Piastri’s defense. This made him vulnerable to the ever-present threat that is Max Verstappen.

Prior to the Dutch Grand Prix, Norris was trailing McLaren teammate Piastri by 9 points in the championship standings. At the start, the Briton got a better launch than the Australian. Nevertheless, an error from Norris ended up costing him, he stated to media including GPblog.

“My situation with like a decent start, I had a dodgy upshift into third, I think, which cost me my momentum. Otherwise, I think I had a slightly better one than Oscar.

“And then I was just on the inside, I couldn’t really get left. Oscar then drifted high so I could come inside.”

Norris' prediction comes true

Meanwhile, Max Verstappen on softs saw the door open up and went for a daring two-wheels-on-the-grass move that nearly saw him lose control of his Red Bull, which he managed to retain.

Norris had predicted from the moment he learned of Verstappen’s starting tyre choice that the Dutchman would be going for the overtake.

“I mean, as soon as I knew Max was on the softs, I knew there was a good chance he was going to come past.

“I knew Max would go for it in Turn 2. It was a close one,” he added.

However, Norris was unfazed by the move as his confidence in the potential of his MCL39 meant he would be able to regain the place shortly after.

“But I also knew my pace was going to be much stronger so I didn’t have anything to worry about,” said Norris.

Norris unleashed in title battle against Piastri

For the British McLaren driver, woe would strike on lap 65, when a suspected oil leak meant his demise from the Dutch GP, enlarging the championship gap to teammate Piastri to 34 points.

For the Briton this, according to his own words, releases him to simply 'go for it,' even if he acknowledges the pressure has now ramped up.

“It’s only made it harder for me and put me under more pressure. But it’s almost a big enough gap now that I can just chill out about it and just go for it,” he concluded.

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