Race Week Wrap-Up, Dutch Grand Prix
McLaren's Lando Norris celebrates statement win in Zandvoort
Formula One’s 2024 season returned from a lengthy three-week summer break at Circuit Zandvoort in the Netherlands. This uniquely short and windy track is located right on the coast of the North Sea, just west of Amsterdam.
Some big news of the weekend, though, occurred outside of Dutch land. On Friday morning, 21-year-old Jack Doohan was announced as the second driver for Alpine in 2025, replacing Esteban Ocon. The Australian native was previously a top performer in Formula Two and an Alpine reserve driver. Even before his Formula One promotion, the Doohan name has been long etched in motorsport history, as Jack Doohan’s father, Mick Doohan, won five consecutive MotoGP championships.
New Alpine Driver Jack Doohan with his father Mick Doohan
While winning in motorsport may be in the Doohan family’s blood, Jack will have a tall task in trying to make the Renault-Alpine car any bit competitive. There needs to be a high level of patience for both Doohan and Alpine for them to be able to succeed. Sights are set for the future and not the present, as Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore has recently asserted that the French manufacturers have their goals set for real competitiveness by 2027, “Alpine on the podium by 2027.” Young Williams driver Logan Sargeant is a prime example of why patience will be necessary for Doohan and Alpine. Capped off by an unfortunate Free Practice 3 crash that rendered him unavailable to participate in qualifying, the greater F1 fan base and media have lost faith and patience in the American driver. Yet many fail to see that Sargeant was rushed into F1 after a quick F2 career, put in a failing Williams car, and constantly treated as less important than teammate Alex Albon. In order for Doohan to succeed, Alpine needs to get it together quicker than 2027, and patience for the Australian needs to be at an all-time high.
Pace and dominance were established early in the weekend by Mclaren and Lando Norris, as they topped Verstappen’s Red Bull by over two-tenths. The Mclaren car was noticeably speedy all weekend as Lando Norris easily secured pole position and Oscar Piastri took the third starting spot on the grid. The hometown boy and championship leader Max Vertappen started second on the grid before taking first position through turn one and held the place for the first stint of the race. Still, in the insanely quick McLaren car, Norris not only caught up to Verstappen but took the lead and never looked back. By the 72nd and final lap of the race, Norris was 22 seconds ahead of Verstappen and took home his second ever Grand Prix win. Yet, this was more of the same for Mclaren, and a nonchalant Lando Norris had a muted celebration, especially compared to the fanatics after his Miami win. This seems to signify Norris’ championship premonitions and a larger idea where the Mclaren team knows more wins are on the horizon.
As Lando Norris and Mclaren continue their quest for both the constructors and drivers championship with the undoubted fastest car on the grid, keep an eye on the way that the discussions around Norris and Verstappen shift now that the roles of fastest car have switched. Whether it’s Norris having a 2013 Sebastian Vettel-like end to the season or Verstappen still finding a way to win in a struggling Red Bull car, the finish to the 2024 season looks to be spectacular.
