Charles Leclerc singles out Lando Norris weakness in decisive Sprint overtake

Charles Leclerc has singled out Lando Norris's lack of deployment as a key factor behind his decisive Dutch Grand Prix Sprint overtake. 

From third on the grid, Leclerc kept position behind pole-sitter George Russell and Norris for most of the 24 lap distance, but managed to scythe past Norris in the closing stages with a strong move into Turn 1 on the brakes to snatch second place.

Russell was ultimately too far ahead for Leclerc, who was one of only two drivers to start on the soft tyres, the other being Haas's Oliver Bearman, to mount an attack for the win, but the Ferrari driver was able to keep the Mercedes honest, finishing within two seconds.

Reflecting, Leclerc expressed his surprise at the softs lasting until the end of the race to allow him to launch the attack. 

"I knew Lando didn’t have much deployment on the main straight, so I knew I had to maximise that," Leclerc explained.

"But we still arrived at the braking point more or less at the same level, and it worked out. 

"I did not expect to gain a position at the end of the race with the softs; if anything, it was at the start, but I didn’t have a good start."

"Always, when you are the only one doing something, it’s either very right or very wrong," he added.

"I think it was a good choice in the end. It means we did our homework well in FP1."