Lando Norris said he finds comfort in the fact that he still has a realistic chance of staying in the fight for the Formula 1 World Championship after he clinched pole position for the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. The McLaren driver had already demonstrated his speed by winning the previous race in Hungary – the final event before the summer hiatus – and his pole in the Netherlands marked his second consecutive front‑row start. Norris’ pole came on the back of a strong Sprint performance on Saturday, where he finished ahead of championship leader Kimi Antonelli and cut the points gap to 90. In the qualifying session he edged out Mercedes teammate George Russell, while Antonelli was forced to settle for third place behind his own teammate.
When asked about his mindset, Norris replied, “There’s no point in over‑thinking it. I’m just focusing on tomorrow.
I honestly don’t care what happens next weekend or the one after that. It’s nice to know there’s a possibility.” His words underline a pragmatic optimism: he knows the title race is still open, even if the odds are not in his favour.
The current standings show Antonelli leading the championship with a 53‑point advantage over Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, while Russell sits three points further back. Norris, who is fifth overall, trails Charles Leclerc by 11 points. The points distribution means that a strong finish in the remaining races could dramatically reshape the leaderboard. Norris’ season has been a roller‑coaster.
He began the year locked in a direct contest with his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri for the 2023 title, but Red Bull’s Max Verstappen surged back into contention and ultimately finished just two points shy of the champion. Verstappen’s resurgence was helped by the double disqualification of the McLarens in Las Vegas and a strategic blunder by the eventual constructors’ champions in Qatar – incidents Norris referenced when discussing his own plans for 2026. He said, “I’m hoping both Mercedes get a double DSQ in Vegas like we did and that they don’t box in Qatar for a free pit stop.
As long as they repeat the same mistakes, it’ll be just as easy for us, but every season is different.” Norris added that his team is still catching up in several areas, but he is satisfied with the progress made so far: “I’m happy. It’s still a very long way to go. I’m optimistic. I still believe it’s possible, and that’s all I need right now.” George Russell, who must overtake Norris on Sunday to achieve a Sprint‑Grand Prix double at Zandvoort, believes his current position in the championship has lifted some of the pressure that weighed on him earlier in the year.
The 28‑year‑old entered the season as the clear favourite but has been outperformed by Antonelli, who will turn 20 just two days after the Dutch race. Russell explained his new outlook: “After the break I feel a lot more relaxed. I don’t feel I have anything to lose.
The pressure’s off. I’m just going out, enjoying it. I don’t even feel like I’m in a fight – it’s not something I can lose, it’s something I can gain. That’s the mentality I have, and I think it will help me.
I’m just enjoying driving.” Despite his calmer attitude, Russell warned that the championship could still swing dramatically over the remaining eleven rounds. “There are more points available from now until the end of the season than we’ve had so far,” he said. “It changes so quickly. Earlier in the season I was almost 70 points down, got within 25, then back up to 60.
It’s an ebb and flow and it’s far from over. We still have a long way to go.” He also highlighted the importance of the upcoming upgrades for the Mercedes team: “The Ferraris look great. Lando’s been on pole for the last two races, so you can’t count anyone out. We have upgrades coming, and we hope they work.
One faulty upgrade can cost you big points week in, week out.” Antonelli, who could easily finish the weekend with a larger lead than he started with, described his performance as a wake‑up call. He made a mistake during the first part of Sprint Qualifying on Friday that damaged his car, compromising his later runs and leaving him only fifth on the grid. He then finished the 24‑lap Sprint in fourth place. The 19‑year‑old, now in his second Formula 1 season, admitted frustration with his error in the final session of the full‑length qualifying on Saturday.
“I don’t feel extra pressure, but it was a very good wake‑up call this weekend – you can never lower your guard,” Antonelli said. “When you do, you make a mistake, like I did yesterday and again in Q3 today. It’s not that I’m driving more tense, it’s just that this weekend reminded me to keep everything in the right place at the right time and deliver when it counts.” The Dutch Grand Prix schedule for Sunday, August 23, includes the F1 Academy Race at 9:35 am, the Porsche Supercup Race at 10:50 am, and the Grand Prix build‑up from 12:30 pm.
The main race kicks off at 2 pm, with the chequered flag expected around 4 pm. The event will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, and viewers can stream the coverage via NOW without a contract, canceling at any time.