The 2024 Dutch Grand Prix saw Lando Norris taking a dominating and deserved victory in Zandvoort. McLaren now seem to have the fastest package, is this the end of an era for Red Bull and Max Verstappen?

The Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort was a rollercoaster of emotions for Formula 1 fans. Despite a shaky start from pole position, Norris showcased his talent and the outright speed of the McLaren, overtaking Max Verstappen early in the race and never looking back. The McLaren driver cruised to a comfortable win, and thankfully, as Piastri did, didn’t get caught up in any ‘clever’ strategies by his pit wall.

McLaren Pit Wall Blunders Help Verstappen

McLaren had brought the fastest cars to Zandvoort, and a 1-2 finish should have been a no brainer. In the first pit stop window, had Piastri pitted at the same time as Norris, he’d have been comfortably ahead of Charles Leclerc after the pitstops and would have had only the slow running Max Verstappen to separate him from an easy 2nd place.

However, McLaren decided to make Piastri run long on slower older tyres (and lost significant time to his competition), for reasons that seem of no benefit, as the team’s strategy blunders on the pit wall turned what should have been a triumphant day into a 4th place for Oscar Piastri. Whilst these strategic errors are not really reported on, yes, it is a fantastic day for Mclaren with Norris’ win, BUT, it should have been a 1-2, they should have taken MORE points from Verstappen, but they didn’t.

Hard compound tyres, after a few great laps, seem to settle in for the long haul, so ‘newer tyre advantages’ are seldom realised in the way the teams dream of when looking purely at data on a sheet.

Whether or not McLaren will learn from this lesson is unknown, as no-one appears to be asking the questions about Piastri’s poor pit stop strategy, and helping Max!

Mercedes’ Pit Wall Strategy Cockup Helps Perez

Mercedes, too, found themselves on the wrong side of strategy decisions…  AGAIN. It is so painful to watch Mercedes deliver in race strategy and tactics, they really suck at it.

Starting third, George Russell had high hopes of securing a strong finish. However, whilst running in a lowly 5th, and looking vulnerable to Sainz, Mercedes called Russell in for what seemed a crazy and unnecessary second pit stop, that ultimately saw him drop to seventh place.

Once again, Mercedes’ strategy demanded too much from their drivers, a recurring theme for the last few seasons. Track position DOES count, regardless of what Toto says, overtaking can be really tough, it’s a competition, and ‘ze data’ isn’t real life.

In the end, Mercedes gave Perez 6th place, it was crazy! It is hard to see how Perez would’ve got 6th without Mercedes simply handing it over!

Lewis Hamilton, on the other hand, delivered a really solid drive from a terrible 14th place start (including a 3 place penalty for impeding Perez in qualifying), climbing from 14th on the grid to finish eighth in what is not an easy track to make places on. Interestingly, Mercedes also pitted Hamilton again, in what could’ve been considered on plan, solidifying his position but giving him little chance of moving forward were anyone in front to make a mistake. As it happened, if they’d not pitted , he might have beaten his team mate Russell!

Red Bull Under Scrutiny: Performance Dip Raises Eyebrows

While Max Verstappen secured second place, Red Bull’s recent dip in form has sparked rumours and speculation within the paddock. Once the dominant force in Formula 1, Red Bull’s performance has come under the spotlight, with whispers of an illegal inner wheel braking mechanism that gave them a significant advantage last season and for the first part of this season.

The rumour mill suggests that the FIA has since intervened, potentially explaining Red Bull’s relative struggle for pace in recent races.

Commentators such as Martin Brundle thought the gap to Max in 2nd place was so large at the end that Max was deliberately driving slowly to humiliate his team. This is a distinct possibility. Max will be struggling right now, and he may well descend into madness if he continues to lose, ahem, I mean, ‘not win’.

The allegations about Red Bulls performance enhancing (and not allowed) braking system in corners, if true, could have far-reaching implications for the team as they chase another championship. Of course, the other question is, why no punishment?

For now, Verstappen’s second-place finish keeps him firmly at the top of the championship, but with 9 races to go, and lingering questions about Red Bull’s car, is this the year that a McLaren will take the title?

Conclusion: A Race of Highs, Lows, and Unanswered Questions

The Dutch Grand Prix was a race that had it all—brilliant driving, strategic blunders, and a cloud of controversy hanging over one of the sport’s biggest teams. Lando Norris’s victory was a bright spot in an otherwise challenging day for McLaren, while Oscar Piastri was left to ponder what might have been. Mercedes continue to grapple with strategy issues (or a lack of any real natural in race strategy talent), and Red Bull’s performance raised more questions than answers. Ferrari actually had a solid result for Leclerc in 3rd place.

As the Formula 1 season unfolds, the fallout from Zandvoort will be felt by all the top teams. Norris’s win is sure to boost McLaren’s confidence, but they will need to address their strategic shortcomings if they hope to maintain their momentum. Mercedes must find a way to marry their strategy with the capabilities of their drivers, while Red Bull faces a different kind of pressure, with the specter of regulatory scrutiny looming large.

In the end, the Dutch Grand Prix was a reminder of why Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motorsport. It’s not just about speed—it’s about strategy, consistency, and the ability to adapt to the ever-changing dynamics of a race weekend. For Norris and McLaren, the victory at Zandvoort was a step forward, but the road ahead remains fraught with challenges and uncertainties.

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