F1: Verstappen storms to pole for Dutch GP (Update)

Yuki Tsunoda will drop three places on the Dutch Grand Prix grid after being given a penalty by the stewards for blocking Lewis Hamilton during Saturday’s qualifying session at Zandvoort.

It means Tsunoda will drop from 14th to 17th on the grid, promoting Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg, Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon, while seven-time world champion Hamilton remains 13th.

With 110,000 Dutch fans cheering wildly, Red Bull Honda driver Max Verstappen stormed to the pole for the Dutch GP.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

After two Red Flags that left limited time to set fast laps, Verstappen put up a lap of 1m10.567s to win the pole by 0.537s over the McLaren of Lando Norris on the tricky seaside Zandvoort circuit.

It was Verstappen’s 3rd straight pole at Zandvoort and 28th career F1 pole. He has proven all year he is fastest in the wet and dry, and almost always beating his teammate Sergio Perez in the same car.

“It was a very tricky qualifying,” said Verstappen.

“It was all about putting your laps in, but also staying out of trouble. We had to risk it a bit, but that last lap was very enjoyable. First time here in these conditions, we underestimated with the wind and the sun how quick it dried.”

“I’m happy still, P2 is a good result. In these conditions, you hope Max [Verstappen] makes a mistake, but he doesn’t,” said Norris.

“Chaotic qualifying, but good fun. Qualifying is always stressful, the first half of my lap was mega but the second half was one of the worst second halves we’ve ever done.”

George Russell was third for Mercedes, 0.727s behind. His teammate, Lewis Hamilton, was eliminated in Q2.

“Really great session, quali was one of my strengths at the start of the year but it’s been going wrong recently so great to have a refresh, a break and try some new things,” said Russell.

“The lap was okay to be honest, we struggle with the crossover onto slicks but hopefully [tomorrow] we can have a good fight. I’m really happy for Williams and Alex [Albon], I flew over here with Alex and he said he thought they were going to be rubbish!”

Alex Albon had his best qualifying session for Williams and will start 4th.

Fernando Alonso rounded out the top-5 in his Aston Martin, 0.939s back.

Overrated Charles Leclerc, who had spun and gone off all weekend, crashed out and caused the 2nd Red Flag of Q3 in his #16 Ferrari.

Logan Sargeant, who made his first Q3 in his Williams, crashed out early in Q3, bringing out the first Red Flag and will start 10th.

Well, that was as action packed as the rest of the weekend has proven to be. Crashes and shocks, some surprises as well but up front, there was just no stopping Verstappen. That’s his third straight pole on home soil, and it’s very difficult to see just who is going to stop him tomorrow.

Norris will try his best from P2, but he could be looking backwards towards the likes of Russell and Alonso behind if Verstappen gets a good start. Albon is going to be an interesting watch, especially as his car looked good in the dry yesterday, with tomorrow’s race slightly more likely to stay dry at the moment than wet.

Perez will be on another recovery drive from seventh (1.3s slower than his Red Bull teammate), and he has done it previously here. He made it up to eighth in 2021 after a pit lane start, but he’s got quite the caliber of drivers ahead of him tomorrow that might make overtaking somewhat more difficult.

Qualifying Results