Formula 1

Dutch GP: Max Verstappen snatches pole off Leclerc at Zandvoort

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Max Verstappen gave his home fans exactly what they wanted by clinching pole in Dutch Grand Prix qualifying.

After a difficult Friday, the reigning world champion was back on form at Zandvoort but had to overcome a very strong challenge from Charles Leclerc to take his fourth pole of the season. 

Q1

The Dutchman set the pace from the start as he only needed one flying lap to go fastest in the Red Bull in Q1.

Behind though, it was a scramble with the entire grid covered by just two seconds.

In the battle to avoid elimination, Carlos Sainz had a nervy end to the session down in 14th for Ferrari.

And he was helped by Sebastian Vettel blowing his final run at the penultimate corner as he went off into the gravel having been on course for a much faster lap.

As it is, the German will only start 19th, with Daniel Ricciardo another surprise name to be knocked out in 17th for McLaren.

Valtteri Bottas suffered back-to-back Q1 exits in 16th, Kevin Magnussen was only 18th and Nicholas Latifi was slowest overall in the Williams.

Q2

Sainz set the pace ahead of Russell in Q2, but only a tenth clear of Verstappen in third on used tyres as lap times dropped into the 1m10s.

There were mixed emotions at AlphaTauri as Yuki Tsunoda just made it through in 10th, less than a tenth faster than teammate Pierre Gasly in 11th.

Alpine disappointed in 12th and 13th for Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso respectively, the double world champion blaming traffic on his final run.

Zhou Guanyu was 14th, with Alex Albon completing the top 15.

Q3

The first runs saw Verstappen go fastest early on before being pipped by Leclerc with just 0.059s between them.

Hamilton was also in the mix in third for Mercedes, less than two-tenths off the pace.

On the final run, Leclerc would improve by a tenth but the home hero wouldn't be denied as Verstappen set a 1m10.342s to claim pole by just 0.021s!

Sainz improved to third, also less than a tenth off P1 as Hamilton dropped to fourth ahead of Sergio Perez, who spun exiting the penultimate corner.

That compromised George Russell behind as the Briton had to back off and settle for sixth.

Lando Norris made up for Ricciardo's poor result by finishing 'best of the rest' in seventh, with Mick Schumacher an impressive eighth for Haas.

Tsunoda was ninth and Lance Stroll, who had the pace to challenge Norris, was only 10th and unable to set a lap in Q3 due to a technical issue.

At the front though, it's Verstappen with the advantage going into Sunday but a mighty battle awaits near the beach in the Netherlands.

Full results from qualifying can be seen below:

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