Martin Brundle pinpoints ‘astonishing’ detail of Lando Norris’ Dutch Grand Prix pole lap

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Lando Norris produced arguably the best qualifying lap of the Formula 1 season so far to take pole position for the Dutch Grand Prix on Saturday. The McLaren driver blitzed Red Bull rival Max Verstappen with a truly special effort.

Norris’ time of a 1:09.673 on the final run of Q3 was three and a half tenths quicker than Verstappen could manage. The reigning world champion was unbeaten in qualifying at Zandvoort since the event returned to the calendar in 2021.

Red Bull are no longer the dominant force they were in 2022 or 2023. But there was still a feeling that Verstappen could produce something special when it counted in front of his adoring crowd.

Instead, he was as far off pole as he’s been at any race this season, barring Silverstone. This may be a testament to McLaren’s major upgrade package.

But that shouldn’t detract from Norris’ inspired performance. He was nearly half a second quicker than teammate Oscar Piastri on the second-shortest track of the season after Monaco.

The British driver is hoping to mount a near-miraculous comeback in the championship. With 10 races to go, he’s 78 points behind Verstappen, so this event may be a must-win.

Martin Brundle stunned by Lando Norris’ first sector in Dutch Grand Prix pole lap

Speaking during Q3, Martin Brundle cast his eye to the timing screen and spotted a wonderful first sector from Norris. The 24-year-old shaved just under a tenth off what he’d managed on his first lap.

Verstappen briefly unseated Norris at the top of the timings. But the celebrations in the grandstands would be quashed within a matter of seconds as his rival crossed the line.

This was his fourth career pole position and his third this season. He’s set the pace in Barcelona and Budapest too, having bagged a maiden pole at Sochi in 2021.

“23.8 first sector for Norris – that’s an astonishing time!” Brundle remarked.

Anthony Davidson ‘feels sick’ after watching Lando Norris’ Zandvoort onboard footage

Norris is running a special camera on his McLaren this weekend. The so-called ‘gyro cam’ is designed to better convey the sense of speed and jeopardy.

Around a circuit like Zandvoort, the footage is particularly striking. That’s because there are multiple banked corners, most notably turn three.

Sky’s Anthony Davidson ‘felt sick’ watching Norris from that point of view. But his colleague David Croft was a huge fan of the innovation.

Marc Priestley says Mercedes are Norris’ biggest problem in the 2024 title fight because they can deny him victories. But with George Russell fourth and Lewis Hamilton down in 12th, they shouldn’t be a factor this time.