The Netherlands - Sprint Qualifying

In what is set to be the last Formula One Grand Prix at the Dutch Zandvoort, the excitement began before the cars ever appeared on track. Having broken his wrist over the summer break, Isack Hadjar withdrew from the race, leaving his Red Bull spot empty for the taking. VCARB’s Liam Lawson was thus temporarily promoted to the main team, while his place was given to Red Bull’s previous driver, Yuki Tsunoda. That is why, like a memory from seasons past, his name will appear in the accounts from the weekend. 

The championship leader, Kimi Antonelli, was the first driver to appear on track in the shortened qualifying session. He did not, however, get to set a time as he found the gravel by turn 13. Fernando Alonso met a similar fate. The difference between the two was that, while on the Italian’s second attempt, he managed a lap that put him far away from the elimination zone, the older driver found himself at the very bottom of the pack. He was eliminated alongside Oliver Bearman, Carlos Sainz, Lance Stroll, Valtteri Bottas, and Sergio Perez. 

Oscar Piastri set the first SQ2 time to beat. The other drivers from the top teams were close behind and, feeling safe with the laps they had managed to put together, opted against going out for a second flying lap. Their situation was the opposite of that of the driver sitting towards the bottom of the standings, four of whom still had no official time, despite only two minutes remaining in the session. In the end, it was Lawson, Tsunoda, Franco Colapinto, Nico Hulkenberg, Esteban Ocon, and Alex Albon who made up the unfortunate list of eliminated drivers. 

In SQ3, the drivers began appearing on track with a little over four minutes to go, giving themselves just enough time for two tries. Lando Norris shot to the top of the standings, but was promptly overtaken by George Russell, whose flying attempt was too quick for anyone else to beat. The margins, however, were incredibly small, as only 0,1s separated the top four. 

Order of the grid:

1. George Russell

2. Lando Norris

3. Charles Leclerc

4. Oscar Piastri

5.. Kimi Antonelli

6. Max Verstappen

7. Lewis Hamilton

8. Pierre Gasly

9. Gabriel Bortoleto

10. Arvid Lindblad

11. Liam Lawson

12. Yuki Tsunoda

13. Franco Colapinto

14. Nico Hulkenberg

15. Esteban Ocon

16. Alex Albon

17. Oliver Bearman

18. Carlos Sainz

19. Lance Stroll

20. Valtteri Bottas

21. Sergio Perez

22. Fernando Alonso