Norris beats Russell to pole in Dutch GP qualifying
Lando Norris claimed his second consecutive pole position of the season at Zandvoort, edging out George Russell by 0.103 seconds. The Dutch Grand Prix starts Sunday at 16:00 Latvian time.
Reigning F1 world champion Lando Norris set the fastest time in qualifying for the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, securing his second consecutive pole position this season. The McLaren driver beat both Mercedes cars in a tightly contested session, finishing just 0.103 seconds ahead of second-placed George Russell, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli took third, 0.133 seconds off the pace.
Strong response after a difficult start
Norris finished third in Saturday's sprint race and had complained about a lack of pace in his McLaren. However, he delivered a strong lap when it mattered most in the decisive qualifying session. Afterwards, he admitted being somewhat surprised by the result, noting that with margins so tight, even hundredths of a second could make a big difference. Norris said the team had struggled somewhat earlier in the day and that mechanics made adjustments to the car — changes he described as minor but enough to give him extra confidence on track.
Rest of the field
Oscar Piastri took fourth place, just 0.142 seconds behind his McLaren teammate Norris. Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc rounded out the top six. Home favorite Max Verstappen qualified seventh, ahead of Red Bull teammate Liam Lawson, who is standing in for the injured Isack Hadjar.
With overtaking notoriously difficult on Zandvort's tight, twisting circuit, pole position could prove a significant advantage for Norris as he aims for a second straight race win. The Dutch Grand Prix is set to start on Sunday at 16:00 Latvian time.
