ZANDVOORT, Netherlands. – McLaren’s Lando Norris took pole position for the Dutch Grand Prix by a hefty margin on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) and became the first driver to qualify ahead of Max Verstappen at the Formula One championship leader’s home circuit.
Red Bull’s Verstappen, who had been on pole at Zandvoort every year since the circuit returned in 2021 and has yet to be beaten there, will still line up alongside the Briton on the front row.
Australian Oscar Piastri qualified in third place for McLaren and George Russell completed the second row for Mercedes, winner of three of the last four races.
“I felt comfortable out there. The car felt amazing. We had some upgrades, and everything is working very well,” said Norris after lapping the seaside circuit with a best time of one minute 09.673 seconds.
“I’m excited for tomorrow. I’m sure it will be tough. Max has been quick all weekend. I know we got him today but he’s still second and will put up a good fight, especially at his home race.”
Verstappen, who could suffer a fifth defeat in a row on Sunday, took provisional pole from Norris with his second flying lap but the roar of the crowd soon subsided as the McLaren went 0.356 quicker.
McLaren boss Zak Brown, his team only 42 points behind Red Bull, hailed the effort as a ‘monster lap’.
“I tried the best I could. I’m still happy to be on the front row,” said Verstappen, who has a 78-point lead over Norris after 14 of 24 races.
“It was tricky out there with the wind. We had these gusts of wind, so every lap felt different, so you can’t really go off a reference. I’m happy with second. After yesterday, this is a good result.”
Verstappen had been only seventh fastest in the first phase and eighth in the second but, never to be counted out, he saved the best for last on an overcast afternoon.
“We will give it a good go but when you are more than three tenths behind in qualifying, I think you have to be realistic. I will just try to have a good race,” he said.
Norris has won only once in his career so far, in Miami in May, and failed to convert previous poles in Spain and Hungary this season into victory.
