Dutch Grand Prix: Pole with Verstappen

Cloudy. Drying job. Air +17…23С, route +22…24С

On Saturday morning, rain wet the Dutch circuit located in the dunes, morning practice was still possible, although it was interrupted three times by red flags, but the Formula 2 race was canceled after several laps and accidents – it was dangerous to drive in such circumstances.

In Friday’s second practice session, which was held on a dry track, Daniel Ricciardo had a minor but unfortunate accident that broke his carpal bone. Just ahead of him on the corner of Turn 3, Oscar Piastri was spun and slammed into the wall, leaving the Australian with no choice but to crash close to avoid hitting an opponent.

Ricciardo replaced SuperFormula reserve driver Liam Lawson this year, becoming the youngest New Zealander in F1 for 43 years.

Just like the day before, the stands were full and the weather got better. The rain stopped, the sun was shining, but the track remained wet in places.

In the first session everything still on intermediate bands. Track conditions changed every minute, the riders working in a series of circles, gradually adding.

Verstappen and Albon crashed into the gravel, Leclerc was too late to brake into the first corner, with no consequences for the cars. Sainz dangerously blocked Piastri and left the pit lane – the stewards took note of this episode.

The fastest time was set by Alex Albon with a lap time of 1:20.839. Zhou, Okon, Magnussen, Bottas and Lawson fell from the further battle.

second session the riders also started on intermediate tyres, using the same strategy with long stretches of laps. The track dried up, the results grew. Five minutes before the end of the session, the riders changed tires and put on new sets of intermediate tyres, but there were wet areas and no one was in a hurry to switch to slicks.

Verstappen set the fastest time with a lap time of 1:18.856. Stroll, Gasley, Hamilton, Tsunoda and Hulkenberg did not qualify for the final.

In the final Piastri, Leclerc, Verstappen and Pérez went out on intermediate tires on the first attempt, but switched to slicks after one lap.

In the second minute the session was stopped by red flags – Sargent spun at turn two, he slid through the gravel trap and crashed into the barrier, crashing the car badly.

Williams was evacuated, the barrier could not be repaired quickly, but in the end the autodrome services were able to make it. The break lasted nearly twenty minutes.

The track was completely dry, everyone started on slicks, but three minutes later red flags appeared again: Leclerc crashed the car. This time there was a short break.

There were four minutes left until the end of the session – just one attempt, Verstappen was fastest.

Max Verstappen won Zandvoort qualifying with his 28th career pole and eighth of the season.

Second fastest was Lando Norris, third George Russell and Alex Albon qualified fourth, much to the delight of Williams fans.

Qualifying results