Norris snatches Dutch GP pole from Russell in rain-threat thriller
Synopsis
Norris braved worsening weather to steal pole from Sprint winner Russell by just a tenth at Zandvoort — while title rival Verstappen could only manage seventh. Sunday's Dutch GP now looks like a genuine McLaren opportunity to extend the championship lead.
Key Takeaways
Lando Norris took pole for the Dutch Grand Prix at Circuit Zandvoort on 22 August with a lap of 1m 11.163s .
George Russell , the Sprint race winner, qualified second; rookie Kimi Antonelli took third to complete a Mercedes front-row lock-out of P2 and P3.
Oscar Piastri starts fourth; Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc line up fifth and sixth.
Max Verstappen could only manage seventh, leaving him well behind his championship rival at the start.
Carlos Sainz was knocked out in Q1 by just 0.022 seconds , qualifying P17.
Lando Norris claimed a stunning pole position for the Dutch Grand Prix at Circuit Zandvoort on 22 August, denying Sprint race winner George Russell in a gripping qualifying session held under darkening skies. The McLaren driver posted a best lap of 1 minute 11.163 seconds in the closing moments as rain threatened to end the session prematurely, delivering one of the most dramatic qualifying conclusions of the season.
How the Pole Was Won
With grey clouds rolling in over the Dutch coast, Norris gambled on one final flying lap as conditions deteriorated — and it paid off handsomely. He edged out Mercedes' George Russell by a tenth of a second, with rookie Kimi Antonelli rounding out the top three to complete an all-Mercedes second row alongside Russell. The gap between the two Silver Arrows was razor-thin, underscoring just how closely matched the Mercedes pair were throughout the session.
Piastri, Ferrari and Verstappen's Grid Slots
Oscar Piastri secured P4 despite appearing to be the quickest driver on track for much of qualifying. Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc lined up fifth and sixth respectively, ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen in seventh. Liam Lawson qualified eighth, finishing less than a tenth behind his Red Bull team leader. Gabriel Bortoleto and Arvid Lindblad completed the top ten.
Midfield Battles and Q2 Eliminations
Alpine's Pierre Gasly came agonisingly close to advancing to Q3, missing the cut by under a tenth of a second. He qualified ahead of former teammate Yuki Tsunoda, who was 0.102 seconds adrift of the lead Red Bull on his return to the grid. Nico Hulkenberg qualified P13 for Audi, followed by Franco Colapinto in the second Alpine, Esteban Ocon for Haas, and Williams' Alex Albon in P16.
Q1 Exits: Sainz's Frustration Continues
It was another difficult Saturday for Carlos Sainz, who was eliminated in Q1 by a deficit of just 0.022 seconds to his own teammate, settling for P17. Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll — still yet to fully unlock the potential of their upgraded power unit — qualified P18 and P19. Ollie Bearman was outqualified by his Haas counterpart and will start P20, just ahead of Cadillac's Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez.
With Norris on pole and championship rival Verstappen starting seventh, Sunday's Dutch Grand Prix sets up as a pivotal moment in the title fight — one where track position and tyre strategy could prove decisive.
Point of View
Racing at his home circuit before a partisan crowd, will need to make up serious ground on the first lap — and McLaren, with both cars in the top four, has the strategic depth to cover almost any scenario. The real question is whether Piastri's pace in qualifying translates to race trim, because if McLaren can run a one-two, the championship arithmetic shifts meaningfully. Verstappen's seventh-place start also raises questions about Red Bull's single-lap pace deficit, which has been a recurring theme across multiple circuits this season.
NationPress
23 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who took pole position for the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix?
Lando Norris of McLaren claimed pole position for the Dutch Grand Prix at Circuit Zandvoort on 22 August, posting a best lap of 1 minute 11.163 seconds in rain-threatened qualifying.
Where did Max Verstappen qualify for his home Dutch Grand Prix?
Max Verstappen qualified seventh for the Dutch Grand Prix, a disappointing result at his home circuit and well behind championship rival Lando Norris on pole.
What happened to Carlos Sainz in qualifying?
Carlos Sainz was eliminated in Q1 by a margin of just 0.022 seconds to his own teammate, qualifying in P17 — continuing what has been a frustrating run of Saturday sessions for him.
How did the Mercedes drivers perform in Dutch GP qualifying?
Mercedes had a strong qualifying session, with George Russell taking second and rookie Kimi Antonelli third. The pair were separated by a very small margin, locking out the second row behind Norris.
Who completed the top 10 in Dutch Grand Prix qualifying?
The top 10 was: Norris, Russell, Antonelli, Piastri, Hamilton, Leclerc, Verstappen, Lawson, Bortoleto, and Lindblad.
