Formula One

Max Verstappen on pole in tightly contested Zandvoort qualifying

Andrew Rickert

27 Aug 2023 — 2 min read

A final flying lap secured pole for Max Verstappen at his home grand prix in Zandvoort as rivals McLaren and Williams both showed their potential in difficult conditions.

Max Verstappen celebrates pole position for the Dutch Grand Prix. *(Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool)*

Two red flags interrupted the final session of qualifying and brought it to a one-lap shootout at the close after Charles Leclerc and Logan Sargeant both went into the barriers.

Verstappen mastered the drying conditions to set a lap half a second faster than Lando Norris to take pole at the Dutch Grand Prix for the third year in a row.

“It was a very tricky qualifying starting on the intermediates as the track surface is quite slippery with the new tarmac, so it was all about putting your laps in and staying out of trouble,” said Verstappen.

“I think we managed that quite well but also the end when we could go onto the slick tyres there was one dry line in some places and we had to risk it a bit but the last lap was very enjoyable.”

Qualifying began in wet conditions after heavy rain suspended the previous FIA Formula 2 sprint race, with Liam Lawson out in his first ever competitive F1 session alongside Zhou Guanyu, Esteban Ocon, Kevin Magnussen, and Valtteri Bottas.

The track was rapidly drying through Q2, with Lewis Hamilton the shock elimination after mistiming his final run, knocked out with Lance Stroll Pierre Gasly, Yuki Tsunoda, and Nico Hulkenberg.

Both Williams drivers and both McLaren drivers made it through to Q3, with the four swapping fastest lap with Verstappen and Leclerc throughout qualifying.

The two Williams of Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant were on top of the time sheets at the beginning of Q3 before Sargeant spun off into the barriers, bringing out the red flag.

McLaren was next to top the timing screens as drivers swapped to soft tyres, before the session was stopped once again when Charles Leclerc spun off.

Verstappen was unbeatable on his final run, with a flurry of final laps ending with Norris alongside him on the front row, with George Russell third and Alex Albon in fourth.

Australian Oscar Piastri was edged out by Sainz and Perez in the final seconds to fall to eighth on the grid.

The Formula 1 Heineken Dutch Grand Prix is underway 11.00pm Sunday (AEST) live and ad-free on Kayo Sports and Foxtel.

Watch every session of the Formula One World Championship on Kayo Sports.

2023 Formula One World Championship - Dutch Grand Prix Qualifying