The qualifying session in the Netherlands has concluded. The Dutch track has crowned Lando Norris as the fastest driver, who will start from pole position in tomorrow’s race, ahead of Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri.
As the clock ran out, qualifying in the Netherlands at the Zandvoort circuit concluded; Lando Norris secured pole position. The Englishman driving the MCL38 will start ahead of Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri. Will the Englishman manage to maintain his lead and secure his second career victory?
Two days of struggle for Carlos Sainz, who, after failing to set a valid run during the three practice sessions due to weather, gearbox issues, and a red flag in FP3, was shockingly eliminated in Q2 and will start from eleventh place tomorrow. Charles Leclerc, on the other hand, will start from 6th place.
A weekend to forget also for the American Williams driver, Logan Sargeant, who suffered a severe crash at the exit of Turn 3 during the third and final practice session, destroying his car along with the updates introduced this weekend. Team principal James Vowles harshly commented on the incident, stating that ‘this crash came at the worst possible moment“. Despite the damage to the car and the team’s efforts to get the car ready in time for the start of the session, Sargeant was unable to participate in qualifying and will start from the back of the grid in the Dutch GP.
The recap of the qualifying session in the Netherlands
We’re underway — the clock starts, marking the beginning of the qualifying session in the Netherlands, set against a backdrop of orange waves, with Max Verstappen’s fans eager to see their home hero out front. At the start of the session, Max Verstappen is the fastest in the first sector. However, he records the third-best time with a 1:11.393, behind Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton is under investigation for impeding Sergio Perez at Turn 9.
During Q1, Charles Leclerc appears to lose more time in Turns 8, 9, and 10 compared to the leader. The SF-24 has not performed particularly well on the Dutch circuit, highlighting the critical points of the Ferrari, particularly in terms of performance and stability in fast corners and combined braking zones.
Problems also for the home hero, who, after a terrible slide, is forced to abort his lap and return to the pits. On the edge was Carlos Sainz, but with an excellent time in the final sector, he managed to put himself in front with a 1:11.327, ahead of his teammate.” Suddenly, the track comes alive, and it’s Perez who sets the fastest time in Q1. The drivers eliminated at the end of this first phase are: Daniel Ricciardo, Esteban Ocon, Valtteri Bottas, and Zhou Guanyu.
With the sky growing increasingly gray, a few raindrops falling, and the wind picking up, Q2 begins, launched by Carlos Sainz and his teammate, Charles Leclerc. Oscar Piastri flies around the Zandvoort circuit, becoming the first driver to go under 1:11 with a time of 1:10.505, followed by Max Verstappen. With seven minutes remaining, Lando Norris sets the new benchmark time, +0.009s faster than his teammate. George Russell slots in between the Australian in papaya and the Dutch lion. Shocking elimination from Q3 for Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton, who set the 11th and 12th fastest times, respectively, ahead of Yuki Tsunoda and the two Haas drivers.
The moment of truth arrives as Q3 begins — the first to set the provisional pole and the time to beat is Oscar Piastri with a 1:10.193, only to be surpassed by Lando Norris, who is 0.119s faster. Russell finishes in fourth position, behind Verstappen. None of the drivers make significant improvements, and the times remain unchanged for much of this phase of qualifying, with the number 4 leading the way.
McLaren and Mercedes in ‘new outfits’ in the Netherlands: here are the updates for the weekend!
The team led by principal Andrea Stella has decided to bring the second technical update package, following the one introduced in Miami, to the Dutch circuit. On the cars of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, the suspension, brake ducts, as well as the floor and diffuser have been revised. The rear wing and beam wing have also been modified. McLaren is gearing up to challenge Red Bull for the Constructors’ Championship, just steps away from claiming the title, with the Woking team currently in second place.
The W15 also features modifications to the floor — introduced previously at Spa-Francorchamps but not well received; at Zandvoort, however, the update proved quite effective and will remain on the Mercedes car for the rest of the weekend.
Photo: Oracle Red Bull Racing, Formula 1, FIA
