Norris 'hoping for Mercedes double DSQ' after securing dramatic Dutch GP Pole Position
Photo: Race Pictures
Updated: 18:19, 22 Aug
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Henry Eccles is a freelance Formula 1 journalist for GPblog, covering breaking news, live race blogs, and features across the F1 calendar. Since joining in 2026, he has produced high-volume reporting on the sport’s biggest stories, alongside feature pieces including analysis and historical content.
Dutch GP pole sitter, McLaren's Lando Norris, has joked that he needs a double Mercedes DSQ and strategy errors similar to McLaren's nervy end to the 2025 season at Las Vegas and Qatar if he has a chance at retaining his Drivers' world championship.
With rain arriving towards the late stages of Dutch GP Qualifying, Norris beat Mercedes' George Russell and Kimi Antonelli to Pole Position, but is wary he faces a tough challenge during Sunday's race.
Reacting to his Pole Position, Norris told GPblog and other media: "I don't know how much the rain honestly affected things, Certainly the lap time was a bit better than I expected, and I honestly, it maybe just cooled the track a little bit and actually the tires performed better through the lap.
"But I wouldn't say it affected anything in a bad way, only my turn one was pretty, pretty shocking, it was pretty my worst turn one of the weekend, Otherwise, it wasn't a lap that felt, that felt mega, it was just one where I just had to commit to everything because I knew how close it was going to be."
Having said the car was not fast enough after Sprint Qualifying, Norris admitted McLaren have made some progress, but still expects to be on the "trickier side of things tomorrow."
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Norris 'hopes' for Mercedes mistakes in title fight
Photo: Race Pictures
Norris was also asked on what realistic chances he has at the title, with McLaren clearly having made a step up on performance since Norris' first win of the season at Budapest prior to F1's summer break. Norris currently sits 90 points behind Antonelli in the Drivers' standings.
Jokingly making reference to McLaren's nervous end to the 2025 season, Norris replied: "I honestly don't care what I'm doing next weekend or the weekend after. It's nice to know there's a possibility. And of course, yeah, I'm hoping both Mercedes get a double DSQ in Vegas like we did. And decide not to box in Qatar for a free pit stop.
"So, as long as they make the same mistakes, it'll probably be just as easy. But, yeah, every year is different. So, I mean, for me, we're still trying to play catch up with certain things. But I'm getting everything out of it for now, and that's all I can be pleased about."
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Dutch Grand Prix
Overview
Friday 21.08.26
Practice 1
10:30 AM
Sprint Qualification
02:30 PM
Saturday 22.08.26
Sprint Race
10:00 AM
Qualification
02:00 PM
Sunday 23.08.26
Race
01:00 PM
Friday 21.08.26
Practice 1
Fri 10:30 AM
Sprint Qualification
Fri 02:30 PM
Saturday 22.08.26
Sprint Race
Sat 10:00 AM
Qualification
Sat 02:00 PM
Sunday 23.08.26
Race
Sun 01:00 PM
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F1-stand 2026
Season
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | MercedesMER | 224 | |
2 | FerrariFER | 171 | |
3 | MercedesMER | 168 | |
4 | FerrariFER | 145 | |
5 | McLarenMCL | 134 | |
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8 | Red Bull RacingRBR | 68 | |
9 | AlpineALP | 43 | |
10 | Racing BullsRCB | 43 |
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