It’s interesting that the first pole position of Lando Norris’s career came at a circuit, which was and still is, in Europe.
Although Sochi, home to then-Russian Grand Prix (2022) is no longer part of Formula 1, Zandvoort, which is Norris’s fourth and most recent pole position venue, also happens to be a track in Europe.
But while that may seem banal and rather unnecessary to even mention, perhaps what makes the Briton’s feat observation-worthy is that it has taken place at a track that is, essentially speaking, the Max Verstappen Grand Prix.
How so? Up to this point, it’s Verstappen who’s clinched every single Dutch Grand Prix event. Useful to remember that the Dutch Grand Prix returned to Formula 1 only in 2021, having last been held in 1985.
Marvellous record of Max at Mad Max territory
On his part, the Red Bull driver, quite simply, annihilated his opponents at his home track scoring a hat-trick of wins starting 2021 at Zandvoort.
Perhaps a feat that would give the most anti-Verstappen individual a thing or two to think about the driver’s prowess at this venue.
However, as seen in the sport recently, the word prowess has come to best describe a certain Lando Norris. Think pace, consistency of bagging podiums and whatnot.
Lando Norris with the most likely chance to dominate 2024 Dutch GP
Thanks to his latest pole, a blazing 1:09.673, the McLaren driver stands as the closest threat to thwarting Verstappen’s plans for a win.
Doing simple school boy math suggests, having already claimed three wins on the bounce here at Zandvoort, the Dutch driver would’ve been hoping for a fourth, which still is possible given he begins second on the grid.
So there’s so much to look forward to today not only because, as per the cliched or so easily understood narrative, the opening few laps will play a part to determine which way the race flows.
Remember, this is a race with no fewer than 72 laps.
And should it rain, the chances of which are as likely as Hamilton ending his career as an all time great of the sport, it’ll only further make the contest spread over 190.5 miles more interesting.
What’s more?
Verstappen, local hero, triple world champion, not someone who’s the golden boy of F1 according to the Silver Arrows fan, ended a wet and wild qualifying just three tenths behind Lando Norris’s blitzy pole.
Should that give Horner’s team the confidence to go for the win?
Should Perez, who begins from fifth, just behind Russell, consider himself as merely a participant in the race or a determiner of the outcome having improved on Saturday?
Can Mercedes dominate the proceedings at Zandvoort today?
Moreover, what possible role can Mercedes play in the next few hours having never stepped on the top step of the podium here since 2021.
Lewis, you’d think, would do well to remember he came as close as second in 2021 and was, by usual standards, ever graceful to vitriolic fans that perhaps think the world exists in one solitary colour.
Which is also interesting because the sport’s ultimate philosophy is “We race as one!”
But this is Formula 1, where lost or won is also a matter of so many accompanying factors; not drivers’ speed alone.