‘Nervous’ David Coulthard has spotted a surprising change in Lando Norris at the Dutch Grand Prix

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McLaren driver Lando Norris will start from the front row at the Dutch Grand Prix, but not in the position that many fans expected.

Oscar Piastri stole pole position by the barest of margins from Lando Norris on Saturday.

Piastri beat Norris by 12 thousandths of a second, with Max Verstappen and Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar lining up on the second row of the grid.

Norris led all three practice sessions and had a decent lead over his younger teammate, but Piastri once again built up his race weekend until the moment when it mattered most in Q3.

However, Norris wasn’t as downbeat in his post-session interview, something that was becoming a trademark of the 25-year-old at times this year.

Norris’ honesty in the media has been compared to Ayrton Senna, but he now needs to find a way to be as dominant as the Brazilian legend in qualifying.

David Coulthard and McLaren CEO Zak Brown were speaking about the nine-time Grand Prix winner and talking about an interesting change they’ve seen in Norris since the end of the summer break.

READ MORE: McLaren driver Lando Norris’ life outside F1 from parents to celebration

David Coulthard sees ‘relaxed’ change in McLaren star Lando Norris at the Dutch Grand Prix

Coulthard was reporting from the Dutch Grand Prix for Channel 4 and explained: “It seems to me that there seems to be nothing between the drivers other than brilliance. It could have gone either way.

“Just at the start of the weekend, I had a chance to talk to Lando.

“I felt quite nervous going into the interview, because I’m thinking, this guy could be world champion, or he could finish second.

“And I don’t want to state the obvious, but I came out of the interview feeling very relaxed. It’s like he’s taken a chill pill during the summer.”

Brown replied: “He’s in a great place! He’s very relaxed. I’ve been around him a long time; he’s just carried himself like a world champion, as has Oscar, so there’s nothing in it.

“I think they enjoyed that battle right there because there was nothing in it.

“But I think they’re enjoying the competition.”

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Lando Norris ‘a little disappointed’ with Dutch Grand Prix qualifying result

Norris lamented his luck running out in qualifying but also admitted that Piastri drove well to take pole position.

He said in an interview with BBC Sport’s Chequered Flag Podcast that he ‘wasn’t as fast as he needed to be’ in several corners, but it felt as though he was seeking perfection with those comments, something Piastri is far more accepting of that fact that it’s almost impossible not to make small mistakes when you’re pushing right at the limit.

Speaking in his official post-race interview, Norris said: “I’m pleased to be starting on the front row, but I’m a little disappointed to not be on pole.

“It was close – it’s been close the whole weekend, and I had decent laps, so it’s not the end of the world.

“We’re in a good position to fight. It’s a long race with a lot of laps, and we’ll see what the weather holds. We’ll have some fun tomorrow.”

The change Coulthard and Brown have noticed in Norris could prove pivotal in the final races of the season.

The pressure is only going to increase on both drivers, and while Piastri is incredibly mellow on the outside, it will be a test of his mettle if he’s holding onto a slender lead from his rival.

For Norris, if he can continue to be relaxed, that might be the exact mindset he needs to go on and win his first drivers’ championship.