Saturday at Zandvoort delivered the most thrilling McLaren battle of the season as Oscar Piastri snatched pole position from teammate Lando Norris in a dramatic finale. From wet morning conditions to an incredibly close qualifying shootout, day two showcased why the Dutch Grand Prix remains one of the calendar’s most exciting venues. What unfolded during the final practice and qualifying sessions? Let us here at Supercars.com.GH explain!
FP3
Lando Norris completed his practice session sweep by topping FP3 with a commanding 1:08.972, but not before overcoming treacherous wet conditions that caught several drivers off guard. Heavy overnight rain left the track damp at the start, with drivers cautious to venture out in the challenging conditions.
Isack Hadjar was the first brave enough to test the waters, though he completed just one lap on intermediates before declaring, “The track is very green.” Kimi Antonelli followed on medium tires as conditions gradually improved, allowing drivers to switch to slicks as the session progressed.
Lance Stroll’s rebuilt Aston Martin showed impressive pace after his heavy FP2 crash required an overnight survival cell change. The Canadian was first to break the 1m 12s barrier before Fernando Alonso lowered the benchmark further, showcasing the competitive nature of the midfield.
Norris eventually stamped his authority with a lap that was significantly quicker than his Friday efforts, finishing 0.242s clear of Piastri. The gap highlighted McLaren’s continued dominance, though Max Verstappen could only manage fifth, nearly a full second behind Norris as his home struggles continued.
Qualifying
Piastri produced the performance of his life to snatch pole position with a stunning 1:08.662, denying Norris by just 0.012 seconds in one of the closest qualifying battles in recent memory. The championship leader’s victory came after Norris had dominated every practice session, marking a dramatic reversal when it mattered most.
The session was filled with drama from the start as Lance Stroll crashed early in Q1, spinning across the gravel and into the barriers to end his qualifying prematurely. Charles Leclerc provided an unusual moment by reporting spotting a fox at Turn 10 during Q2, though fortunately, the animal escaped unharmed.
Max Verstappen delighted the Dutch crowd by claiming third place, providing some home consolation despite being 0.263s behind the McLaren pace. The Dutchman’s performance marked a significant improvement from his practice struggles, though he remained unhappy after encountering traffic during his runs.
Isack Hadjar delivered the shock of qualifying by claiming fourth place for Racing Bulls, achieving his career-best grid position ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell. The French driver’s performance highlighted Racing Bulls’ impressive weekend form, with teammate Liam Lawson also reaching Q3 in eighth.
Both Ferrari drivers reached Q3, with Charles Leclerc sixth and Lewis Hamilton seventh, while Mercedes struggled with Kimi Antonelli missing the Q3 cut in 11th after being caught up in traffic on his final flying lap.
Can Piastri convert his brilliant pole position into victory? Join Supercars.com.GH tomorrow to find out!