Key takeaways
- High self-belief: Lando Norris classified himself as “one of the best starters on the grid,” dismissing suggestions that race starts represent a weakness in his game.
- Grip disparity at Zandvoort: The British driver attributed losing the lead on the restart to asymmetric grip levels, noting the left side of the grid lacked traction compared to the right.
- Championship position: Victory at the Dutch GP moved Norris to 4th in the standings with 159 points, securing his second win of the 2026 season.
Lando Norris has strongly defended his starting ability, rating himself among Formula 1’s elite off the line despite losing the lead during a crucial restart at the Dutch Grand Prix.
The reigning World Champion secured his second consecutive victory of the 2026 season at Zandvoort on August 23, recovering from an early setback. After losing the top spot to Andrea Kimi Antonelli on the standing restart following a red flag, Norris launched a decisive overtake around the outside of Turn 1 on Lap 54 to reclaim the lead and control the race to the checkered flag.
When asked by GRANDE PRÊMIO whether starts remain an area of concern, Norris firmly rejected the premise: “No, not at all. I’m one of the best starters on the grid. We saw in the sprint that starting from pole, the grip was lower than from second place. That was evident again today.“
“I don’t want to just blame myself or the team right now. Certainly, a big part of the issue was that we didn’t understand why I had so little grip compared to the right side of the grid. Sometimes it’s simply a bit of bad luck,” Norris added. “My starts have been very strong, so this is certainly not a weakness.“
The Zandvoort victory brought Norris to 159 points, elevating him to 4th place in the Drivers’ Championship with two victories and four podiums in 2026.
Norris’s comments come amidst a wave of technical and driver news across the paddock, including McLaren detailing the front wheel modification that unlocked their Zandvoort performance surge and Laurent Mekies explaining how Max Verstappen’s contract extension strengthens Red Bull off the track.
Formula 1 action resumes from September 4–6 for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza (Round 13 of the 2026 season). GRANDE PRÊMIO will provide complete live coverage across every session. Follow all updates on our news page.
Lando Norris 2026 Driver Championship Summary (Post-Dutch GP)
| Metric | Stat / Position | Season Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Championship Position | 4th Place | 159 Points (83 behind leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli) |
| Race Victories | 2 Wins | Dutch GP (Zandvoort) & Previous Round |
| Podium Finishes | 4 Podiums | 2 Wins, 2 Additional Podiums |
| Next Event | Italian GP | September 4–6 at Monza Circuit |
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
1. Did Lando Norris win the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix?
Yes, Lando Norris won the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, securing his second consecutive victory of the 2026 season.
2. Why did Lando Norris lose the lead during the Dutch GP restart?
Norris attributed the lost lead to a lack of grip on the pole side of the grid compared to the right-hand side, rather than a driver reaction error.
3. When is the next Formula 1 race on the 2026 calendar?
The next event is the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, taking place from September 4–6, 2026.
