By: Following the Sprint Race, it was time to return to the track at Zandvoort: here is what happened during qualifying.
Q1: Piastri starts strongly, Hamilton at risk
The drivers quickly took to the track, with Yuki Tsunoda the first to set a time, opening with a 1'14''287. With nine minutes remaining, Oscar Piastri led the way on a 1'12''848, ahead of Russell and Norris. Hamilton was fifth, Verstappen seventh and Leclerc eighth. After a brief pause, the drivers headed back out for their final attempts, with Hamilton having meanwhile slipped perilously down the order: the #44 needed a good lap. At the chequered flag, the drivers eliminated in Q1 were: Sainz, Alonso, Stroll, Bearman, Bottas and Perez. A strong showing from the Alpine pair.
Q2: Norris and Piastri play around, Lindblad impresses
The action resumed, with Kimi Antonelli the first to head out on a flying lap: the Italian opened with a 1'12''390, a time Russell lowered by almost half a second. Verstappen was third. With eight minutes remaining, the McLaren pair delivered, with Piastri once again ahead of Norris; Leclerc was third. The top three were covered by 76 thousandths. Antonelli was not especially impressive in sixth. The drivers returned to the pits for a brief break before heading back out with five minutes remaining.
Many drivers fitted fresh tyres at the end, having completed their first laps on used rubber; Max Verstappen was among them. At the chequered flag, Norris was fastest, just thousandths ahead of Piastri; Verstappen moved up to third, followed by Leclerc and Antonelli. The drivers eliminated in Q2 were: Gasly, Tsunoda, Hulkenberg, Colapinto, Ocon and Albon. Lindblad performed well to reach Q3.
Q3: Norris beats them all as Leclerc and Hamilton trail behind
There were only minutes left, with the drivers queueing up to build their first attempts. Dark clouds were approaching the circuit, and George Russell was told that rain could arrive in the final five minutes of the session. It would be crucial to set a lap before the rain arrived. Lando Norris was the first to go for it, posting a 1'11''344, ahead of Russell and Antonelli. Leclerc was fourth, followed by Antonelli. Verstappen was sixth, while Hamilton was only eighth.
The threat of rain prompted the drivers to make a quick pit stop and immediately return to the track. The chequered flag left no doubt: Lando Norris took pole position, ahead of Russell and Antonelli. Hamilton was fifth, Leclerc sixth, followed by Verstappen. Below is the full classification.
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