Norris claims pole for Dutch GP ahead of sprint winner Russell

P1 McLaren's British driver Lando Norris (R) speaks with P2 Mercedes' British driver George Russell after the qualifying race of the Formula One Dutch Grand Prix at The Circuit Zandvoort, western Netherlands, on August 22, 2026.
JOHN THYS / AFP / Getty

McLaren's Lando Norris was fastest during Saturday's qualifying to claim pole position for Sunday's Dutch Grand Prix.

George Russell of Mercedes, who won the sprint race earlier Saturday, will start alongside the reigning F1 champion on the front row in what will be the final grand prix at Zandvoort for the foreseeable future.

Position Driver Team Time
1 Lando Norris McLaren 1:11.163
2 George Russell Mercedes +0.102
3 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +0.133
4 Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.142
5 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +0.331
6 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.395
7 Max Verstappen Red Bull +0.455
8 Liam Lawson Red Bull +0.570
9 Gabriel Bortoleto Audi +0.916
10 Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls +1.022
11 Pierre Gasly Alpine Q2
12 Yuki Tsunoda Racing Bulls Q2
13 Nico Hulkenberg Audi Q2
14 Franco Colapinto Alpine Q2
15 Esteban Ocon Haas Q2
16 Alex Albon Williams Q2
17 Carlos Sainz Williams Q1
18 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin Q1
19 Lance Stroll Aston Martin Q1
20 Ollie Bearman Haas Q1
21 Valtteri Bottas Cadillac Q1
22 Sergio Perez Cadillac Q1

Norris secured pole position early in the final session as rain began.

"It wasn't a lap that felt mega," Norris said after qualifying. "It was one where I committed a lot more because I knew how close it would be, and I almost made more mistakes. ... It was a lap where I just felt I had nothing to lose and it just paid off."

Current F1 championship leader Kimi Antonelli went third-fastest and will start in the second row alongside Norris' teammate Oscar Piastri.

Ferrari formed a third-row lockout with Lewis Hamilton qualifying narrowly ahead of Charles Leclerc.

Red Bull also comprised the entire fourth row, led by four-time F1 titleholder Max Verstappen. Liam Lawson, filling in for the injured Isack Hadjar, placed eighth.

Hadjar is sidelined with a wrist injury. As a result, Lawson was temporarily promoted from Racing Bulls, while reserve driver Yuki Tsunoda filled in for him and placed 12th.

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