Charles Leclerc has described his Sprint Qualifying lap for the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix as his ‘best qualifying lap this year’. The Ferrari driver secured third position on the grid for Saturday’s Sprint race at Circuit Zandvoort, missing pole by a narrow margin.
Leclerc’s fastest time of 1:11.622 placed him just 0.055 seconds behind pole-sitter George Russell. The session saw an exceptionally tight battle at the front, with the top four drivers separated by less than a tenth of a second.
George Russell claimed pole position for Mercedes with a 1:11.567 lap. Lando Norris of McLaren secured second place, just 0.041 seconds adrift of Russell’s benchmark time. Oscar Piastri, in the second McLaren, rounded out the top four, 0.099 seconds behind Russell.
The remainder of the top ten for the Dutch Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying included Kimi Antonelli in fifth for Mercedes, followed by Max Verstappen for Red Bull in sixth. Lewis Hamilton, Leclerc’s Ferrari teammate, qualified seventh.
Pierre Gasly placed eighth for Alpine, with Gabriel Bortoleto securing ninth for Audi. Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad completed the top ten qualifiers for the Sprint race.
Leclerc expressed satisfaction with Ferrari’s technical progress, specifically mentioning setup improvements and floor upgrades introduced for the Dutch Grand Prix. He noted that these developments contributed to his strong performance.
‘I will have preferred to start first but at the end of the day, I’m very happy about today because honestly, I think it’s my best Qualifying lap this year,’ Leclerc stated. ‘That means we are doing something right also with the feeling.’
Ferrari has implemented continuous upgrades to its SF-26 car throughout the 2026 season. This includes a new floor at Zandvoort, aimed at increasing downforce and broadening the car’s operating window.
In contrast to Leclerc’s performance, Lewis Hamilton encountered difficulties during Sprint Qualifying, finishing seventh. Hamilton reported that his car felt ‘completely different’ after subtle adjustments made following the earlier practice session.
Max Verstappen, racing on home soil, qualified sixth, over half a second behind Russell. The four-time World Champion acknowledged struggles with car balance and grip, indicating Red Bull needed to address these issues.
Circuit Zandvoort, located in the coastal dunes of North Holland, measures 4.259 km per lap. The track is known for its distinctive banked corners, including the Arie Luyendijk Corner with an 18% banking angle.
The circuit’s partnership with Formula 1 is scheduled to conclude at the end of the 2026 season. Zandvoort has hosted Formula 1 continuously since its return to the calendar in 2021.
