Dutch GP Qualifying: Lando Norris beats Max Verstappen to pole with stunning lap for McLaren at Zandvoort

In a thrilling qualifying session at the Dutch Grand Prix, Lando Norris of McLaren secured his first-ever pole position, outpacing world championship leader Max Verstappen by more than 0.3 seconds. This achievement marked a significant milestone as Norris denied Verstappen pole position at his home race for the first time in his career.

Norris, who had shown strong performance in the windy conditions at Zandvoort, outshone his competitors with a stunning lap, leaving Red Bull’s Verstappen trailing by 0.356 seconds at the end of the session. The result not only showcased Norris’ exceptional skill but also bolstered his hopes of closing the gap on Verstappen in the drivers’ standings, where he currently trails by 78 points.

Of note is Norris’ McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, who initially positioned himself as a strong contender for pole. However, Piastri’s final lap was not enough to secure a front-row lockout for McLaren, as he was surpassed by Verstappen. Meanwhile, Mercedes’ George Russell clinched the fourth spot, while Lewis Hamilton, after a shock exit in Q2, qualified in 12th position.

This unexpected turn of events has injected further excitement into the race, with Norris’ pole position setting the stage for an enthralling battle between the contenders. The Dutch Grand Prix has definitely set the scene for an exhilarating race day, as Verstappen and the rest of the grid prepare to take on the challenging Zandvoort circuit.

An eagerly anticipated race awaits as we look forward to witnessing the outcome of Norris’ historic pole position and the potential impact on the drivers’ and constructors’ standings.

Dutch GP Qualifying Timesheet

Driver	Team	Time
1) Lando Norris	McLaren	1:09.673
2) Max Verstappen	Red Bull	+0.356
3) Oscar Piastri	McLaren	+0.499
4) George Russell	Mercedes	+0.571
5) Sergio Perez	Red Bull	+0.743
6) Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	+0.909
7) Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin	+0.960
8) Alex Albon	Williams	+0.980
9) Lance Stroll	Aston Martin	+1.184
10) Pierre Gasly	Alpine	+1.304
Knocked out in Q2
11) Carlos Sainz	Ferrari	1:10.914
12) Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes	1:10.948
13) Yuki Tsunoda	RB	1:10.955
14) Nico Hulkenberg	Haas	1:11.215
15) Kevin Magnussen	Haas	1:11.295
Knocked out in Q1
16) Daniel Ricciardo	RB	1:11.943
17) Esteban Ocon	Alpine	1:11.995
18) Valtteri Bottas	Sauber	1:12.168
19) Zhou Guanyu	Sauber	1:13.261
20) Logan Sargeant	Williams	No time set