2024 Dutch Grand Prix Report & Highlights: Lando Norris battles Max Verstappen to end homegrown champion’s winning streak at Dutch Grand Prix

After that flurry of pitlane activity, and another period of fast laps from the race leader, Norris maintained a lead of around 10 seconds over Verstappen, with Leclerc a further six seconds back in third, Russell a further four seconds back and Piastri closing in on the Mercedes driver.

While Gasly and Alpine avoided further action for getting too close to Stroll, the latter was given a five-second time penalty after being found to be faster in the pit lane – replays showed he had locked his car and failed to slow down sufficiently at the entry line.

Piastri continued to use his fresh tyres well, overtaking Russell on the outside at Turn 1 and moving up to fourth, while halfway through the race, Magnussen, who had not yet stopped, was swept away by Albon, Gasly, Alonso and Stroll around the final corner in a dramatic sequence.

Gasly went on to win a fierce battle with Albon at Turn 1, with the latter lamenting what he felt was a “dangerous” situation over the radio. Alonso and Stroll quickly made their way past the Williams driver, while Magnussen made a final pit stop for a tyre change.

By lap 45, Norris had increased his lead to 12 seconds, with Verstappen closing the gap to Leclerc, Piastri chasing the Ferrari and Russell holding on to fifth. A few seconds earlier, Perez was busy defending against Sainz, who was looking left, right and centre for a pass.