Norris to start Dutch Grand Prix at pole position; Verstappen in second

Defending Dutch Grand Prix and Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen failed to secure pole position for Sunday’s race at the Zandvoort Circuit. The Red Bull driver was beaten during qualification on Saturday by Lando Norris from McLaren. Oscar Piastri of McLaren recorded the third fastest time.

Verstappen is not only the three-time world champion, but he has also secured pole position at the last three races in Zandvoort. He went on to win each of the three Dutch Grand Prix events.

It initially looked on Saturday as if Verstappen would join the battle for pole on the dry race track. He struggled with his car in the first two of three qualifying sessions and complained about the grip.

In the third and final session he gave it his all and completed his fastest lap of 1:10.029. To the great joy of the delirious crowd, he was briefly at the top, but then Norris really flew around the track, and was well under the Limburger’s time of the Limburger. The Brit clocked a time of 1:09.673 and was thus more than three-tenths faster.

Verstappen will undoubtedly be hunting for his fourth consecutive victory in Zandvoort from the front row on Sunday. He will then start in a Formula 1 race for the 200th time. With another victory, Verstappen would tie British record holder Jim Clark, who previously won four times in Zandvoort: 1963, 1964, 1965 and 1967.

The 26-year-old from Limburg leads the 2024 championship with 277 points, 78 more than Norris, who is second on the table. After Zandvoort, nine Grand Pric races remain on the calendar.