Lando Norris secured pole position for the Dutch Grand Prix at Circuit Zandvoort on Saturday, setting a fastest lap of 1:11.163. George Russell qualified second with a 1:11.265, while rookie Kimi Antonelli impressed by taking third on the grid with a 1:11.296. Max Verstappen will start his home race from seventh position after a challenging qualifying session.
Verstappen experienced a significant moment during his final flying lap in Q3, running wide at Turn 11 and narrowly avoiding contact with the barrier. His team radio message, ‘I almost crashed,’ was broadcast, indicating the close call that compromised his lap time.
The Red Bull driver expressed ongoing frustration with his car’s balance and grip throughout the weekend. He stated that the team needed to understand the issues overnight to find more performance for Sunday’s Grand Prix.
The top ten qualifiers for the Dutch Grand Prix are: 1. Lando Norris (McLaren), 2. George Russell (Mercedes), 3. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), 4. Oscar Piastri (McLaren), 5. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), 6. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), 7. Max Verstappen (Red Bull), 8. Liam Lawson (Red Bull), 9. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi), 10. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls).
Earlier on Saturday, George Russell claimed victory in the Zandvoort sprint race. He led from pole position, converting his strong start into a commanding win.
Charles Leclerc finished second in the sprint, with Lando Norris securing third place. Kimi Antonelli took fourth, followed by Oscar Piastri in fifth, Max Verstappen in sixth, Lewis Hamilton in seventh, and Pierre Gasly in eighth.
The sprint race remained largely dry, with rain beginning to fall only as Russell crossed the finish line. Russell later expressed relief that the rain did not arrive earlier in the race.
Max Verstappen received an official warning from the FIA prior to the sprint race for an infringement during the starting procedure. This added to a challenging day for the home favourite.
Carlos Sainz also received an FIA warning for a similar incident during the starting procedure. Both Sainz and Fernando Alonso started the sprint race from the pit lane due to car changes.
George Russell had voiced concerns about Ferrari’s pace leading into the qualifying sessions, anticipating a difficult challenge for Mercedes.
Spectator sentiment at Zandvoort was reportedly mixed, with some disappointment regarding the largely uneventful sprint race and Verstappen’s qualifying performance. The 2026 Dutch Grand Prix marks Zandvoort’s final appearance on the Formula 1 calendar for the foreseeable future.
