Lando Norris has put himself in the best possible position for Sunday’s Dutch Grand Prix after taking pole at Zandvoort with a 1:11.163, edging Sprint winner George Russell by just 0.102 seconds.
After finishing third in the Sprint earlier today, Norris responded exactly how McLaren needed him to. Russell will line up alongside him on the front row, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli starts third after ending Q3 only 0.133s away from pole.
Norris turns the tables after the Sprint
Saturday has already shown just how close the fight is at Zandvoort. Russell looked in complete control during the Sprint, but when it came to the session that sets the grid for the Grand Prix, Norris found the lap he needed. Formula 1’s official Dutch GP Qualifying coverage provides the session context.
The margins tell the story. Russell was only 0.102s behind, Antonelli 0.133s back and Oscar Piastri just 0.142s away in fourth. Four cars covered by less than a tenth and a half is exactly the sort of qualifying session that makes Sunday’s race difficult to call.
For McLaren, pole is a strong response after Russell’s Sprint victory. Piastri starting fourth also gives the team two cars right in the fight at the front.
Mercedes remain right in the fight
Russell may have missed out on a second pole of the weekend, but second place after winning the Sprint keeps him in a very strong position. Antonelli alongside him on the second row in third underlines just how competitive Mercedes has been throughout the Zandvoort weekend.
With Norris, Russell, Antonelli and Piastri separated by just 0.142s, the run into Turn 1 on Sunday could be one of the key moments of the Grand Prix.
Verstappen faces a difficult home Grand Prix
Max Verstappen will start his home Grand Prix from seventh after finishing Q3 0.455s behind Norris. It follows sixth place in the Sprint and leaves Red Bull with a much tougher Sunday than the huge Dutch crowd would have hoped for.
Lewis Hamilton put Ferrari fifth on the grid, 0.331s away from pole, with Charles Leclerc sixth. Liam Lawson qualified eighth, while Gabriel Bortoleto and Arvid Lindblad completed the top 10.
Dutch GP qualifying top 10
- Lando Norris — McLaren — 1:11.163
- George Russell — Mercedes — +0.102
- Kimi Antonelli — Mercedes — +0.133
- Oscar Piastri — McLaren — +0.142
- Lewis Hamilton — Ferrari — +0.331
- Charles Leclerc — Ferrari — +0.395
- Max Verstappen — Red Bull — +0.455
- Liam Lawson — Red Bull — +0.570
- Gabriel Bortoleto — Audi — +0.916
- Arvid Lindblad — Racing Bulls — +1.022
Tech Torque Verdict
This feels like a proper response from Norris. Russell had the better of him in the Sprint, but Norris has answered by taking the pole that matters for Sunday’s Grand Prix.
The standout feature is how little separates the front four. Norris has track position, but Russell has already shown strong race pace, Antonelli remains firmly in contention and Piastri cannot be counted out from fourth. Verstappen starting seventh adds another complication, with the Red Bull driver needing to make progress through the field before he can challenge the leaders.
On the evidence we have from Saturday, this one looks far more open than pole position alone might suggest.
Related Tech Torque Media coverage: Dutch GP Sprint: Russell Wins as Leclerc Beats Norris to Second · Dutch GP Sprint Qualifying: Russell Takes Pole Ahead of Norris · Dutch GP FP1: Antonelli Fastest · Dutch Grand Prix 2026 Preview.
Weekend context: The FIA confirmed Russell’s Sprint pole ahead of Norris and Leclerc on Friday, before Russell went on to win Saturday’s Sprint.
