Key events
We’re about 15 minutes away from the start of Q1, what are you expecting from qualifying? Let me know via the link at the top of the page.
Final times after third practice
1 Lando Norris (GB) McLaren 1min 08.972secs
2 Oscar Piastri (AU) McLaren 1:09.214
3 George Russell (GB) Mercedes GP 1:09.858
4 Carlos Sainz Jr. (SP) Williams 1:09.913
5 Max Verstappen (NL) Red Bull 1:09.925
6 Charles Leclerc (MC) Ferrari 1:09.938
7 Alexander Albon (TH) Williams 1:10.099
8 Lance Stroll (CA) Aston Martin 1:10.103
9 Isack Hadjar (FR) RB 1:10.166
10 Fernando Alonso (SP) Aston Martin 1:10.232
11 Liam Lawson (NZ) RB 1:10.300
12 Yuki Tsunoda (JP) Red Bull 1:10.349
13 Gabriel Bortoleto (BR) Kick Sauber 1:10.361
14 Lewis Hamilton (GB) Ferrari 1:10.373
15 Oliver Bearman (GB) Haas F1 1:10.595
16 Nico Hulkenberg (DE) Kick Sauber 1:10.599
17 Andrea Kimi Antonelli (IT) Mercedes GP 1:10.697
18 Esteban Ocon (FR) Haas F1 1:10.801
19 Pierre Gasly (FR) Alpine 1:10.963
20 Franco Colapinto (AR) Alpine 1:11.054
Reports emerged this week of a potential superteam of F1 executives, Christian Horner, Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, combining forces to buy into Alpine. It was a report that got an approving nod from Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff but Briatore, who is running Alpine currently has poured cold water on those reports. The Italian told reporters at Zandvoort on Friday: “I’m not considering anything at this moment, and Christian is not in Formula 1 anymore. I hope he comes back soon but, for the moment, he’s not in the picture at Alpine.”
I have emotions, I still feel everything that everyone else feels. It’s just that, being blunt, I think a lot of emotions are not that helpful.
Oscar Piastri, the current drivers’ championship leader, spoke to Giles Richards ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix about how he is handling the pressure of trying to win a first world title.
Preamble
Lando Norris comes into qualifying at Zandvoort just nine points behind teammate Oscar Piastri in the drivers’ championship and hopeful of pole position after topping the standings in every practice session at the Dutch Grand Prix.
Piastri was only marginally slower than Norris but their McLarens were significantly quicker than George Russell’s Mercedes in final practice. For comparison, there was a similar gap between the McLarens as from Russell to Esteban Ocon’s Haas in 18th.
Norris said that this long stretch that now runs into the season’s climax will be “tricky”. He will need to cut out some of the errors that have cost him points so far during the campaign. When the margins are so tight between the two McLaren teammates, the destination of of the drivers’ championship will likely be decided by who makes the least mistakes. Norris accepts he has could have been in a better position at this stage but is not going to beat himself up about it. He said on Thursday: “Could I have at times made maybe better decisions? I think so.
“I wouldn’t say I regret it. But do I wish I could do it better and do it again, yeah. But I don’t regret making those decisions at the time. That’s life.
“Sometimes it goes your way and you get lucky and sometimes it goes the other way and you don’t make the best decisions but those are the times you learn the most.”
Further down the grid, Carlos Sainz in the Williams had good pace in the final practice, as did Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Despite looking closely matched on Friday, Lewis Hamilton in the second Ferrari was 0.435secs behind his teammate.
Hamilton appeared very downbeat after a poor showing in the last Grand Prix at the Hungaoring, but appears to have returned in a more positive mindset in the Netherlands, saying on Thursday that he is “focusing on my job that I love”.
We are expecting a McLaren one-two at the front of the grid but the other places are very much up for grabs.
