McLaren driver Lando Norris won pole position for Sunday’s Dutch Grand Prix, the current world champion pipping Mercedes rivals George Russell and Kimi Antonelli into second and third place.
In a thrilling qualifying battle set against the threat of bad weather, the British driver set a time of one minute and 11.163 seconds — 0.102 seconds faster than compatriot Russell — to take a critical advantage into the Grand Prix race on Sunday.
“Best lap of my life,” said a pumped-up Norris, who had earlier complained his McLaren was lacking pace after being beaten into third in the sprint race, won by Russell earlier Saturday.
“I just had to commit through everything because I knew how close it was going to be,” added the 26-year-old, who is enjoying a run of good form having won the Hungarian Grand Prix before the summer break.
Oscar Piastri, who took the chequered flag last year at Zandvoort, set the pace for much of qualifying but was pipped late and qualified fourth, ahead of the two Ferraris driven by Charles Leclerc and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
The session had been held in dry conditions but rain started with five minutes to go in final qualifying set a tone of urgency among the teams late.
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Russell had been the quickest driver all weekend but was forced into second place on the grid on the last qualifying lap that was affected by light rain.
“I was on a very strong lap, to be honest. And then I just had a small oversteer in turn eight” that cost him the vital tenth of a second, said Russell.
World championship leader Antonelli will start from third on the grid, ruing a difficult qualifying session with an error in turn one costing him a few crucial tenths of a second.
The teenage sensation set the pace in the first half of the season, winning six races, including a stunning run of five consecutive Grand Prix.
But the chasing pack has closed in fast, with McLaren in particular bringing upgrades to their car that have brought them into contention.
“It was a very good wake-up call this weekend that you can never lower your guard,” said Antonelli, who turns 20 next week.
Sunday’s race promises to be a nail-biter, with just a few tenths of a second separating the top four or five drivers.
Starting on pole however will be a major advantage for Norris. Since Zandvoort returned to the Grand Prix calendar in 2021, the pole-setter has won every time given the difficulty of overtaking on the unique track.
“We have a real fight on our hands these days,” said Russell after triumphing in the sprint.
“I think that’s quite fun and that’s how Formula One should be. It shouldn’t just be two teammates going for race wins week in week out. Everybody should be in with a shot,” he added.
Ferrari will also challenge on Sunday. Leclerc overhauled Norris in the sprint and Hamilton will be aiming to take a chunk out of Antonelli’s 53-point championship lead.
McLaren, who have won here for the past two editions, will also be in the mix and it would be a brave punter who rules out four-time world champion Max Verstappen — especially not at his “home” Grand Prix.
The “orange army” roaring him on will hope he can produce a miracle in his Red Bull that has been off the pace so far this season.
DOMINANT RUSSELL CLAWS BACK CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS
Earlier, Russell powered to victory in the sprint race, making the most of his pole position to claw back some ground on teammate Antonelli in the world championship standings.
Russell got away cleanly at lights out and never looked challenged over the 24-lap sprint race, outpacing Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who finished second, by 1.36 seconds.
Leclerc’s battle with current world champion Lando Norris was the highlight of the race, the Ferrari overhauling the McLaren in a thrilling overtake on the straight in the 18th lap.
“Obviously a great start to the weekend. If it was one more lap, it would have been a very potentially different end to the race, so glad the rain came when it did,” said Russell, after the heavens opened at the chequered flag.
Norris, who complained of problems with the rear of his McLaren, came in third, just managing to hold off teenage sensation Antonelli.
“I just don’t have the pace. There’s nothing we can do,” a downcast Norris told reporters.
Antonelli started fifth on the grid after running into the gravel during qualifying and damaging the floor of his Mercedes.
He did manage to jump McLaren’s Piastri at the start to gain a place, coming in fourth with the Australian finishing fifth.
Home favourite Max Verstappen, on a high after extending his Red Bull contract until 2030, failed to improve on his grid position, ending up sixth.
He had an enjoyable tussle with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, the battle between two legends of the sport exciting the Zandvoort crowd.
Sunday’s Grand Prix will be the last edition for the Dutch since the Zandvoort circuit.
Despite attracting big crowds eager to see Verstappen, promoters have pulled the plug, saying the financial risks were too great.
Fears that Verstappen, who has made little secret of his dislike of the 2026 regulations, could quit the sport played a part in the decision to pull the plug on Zandvoort.
But ironically, as the teams were setting up for the last Dutch Grand Prix, Verstappen announced he had extended his contract with Red Bull until 2030, guaranteeing his future and Dutch interest in the sport.
Starting grid for Sunday’s Dutch Formula One Grand Prix:
1st row Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes), George Russell (GBR/Mercedes)
2nd row Kimi Antonelli (ITA/Mercedes), Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren-Mercedes)
3rd row Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Ferrari), Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari)
4th row Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull), Liam Lawson (NZL/Red Bull)
5th row Gabriel Bortoleto (BRA/Audi), Arvid Lindblad (GBR/Racing Bulls-Red Bull)
6th row Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine-Mercedes), Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/Racing Bulls-Red Bull)
7th row Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Audi), Franco Colapinto (ARG/Alpine-Mercedes)
8th row Esteban Ocon (FRA/Haas-Ferrari), Alexander Albon (THA/Williams-Mercedes)
9th row Carlos Sainz (ESP/Williams-Mercedes), Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin-Honda)
10th row Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin-Honda), Oliver Bearman (GBR/Haas-Ferrari)
11th row Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Cadillac-Ferrari), Sergio Perez (MEX/Cadillac-Ferrari)
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