Piastri snatches Dutch GP pole as Norris falls short by 0.012s
Qualifying for the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort delivered everything Formula 1 fans could have asked for – drama, razor-thin margins, and a surprise pole position winner. Despite Lando Norris dominating practice across all three sessions, it was his McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, who rose to the occasion when it mattered most, edging him out by just 0.012 seconds to secure pole.
The session was played out in front of a packed Dutch crowd, most of them dressed in orange to support local hero Max Verstappen. While their star driver gave them plenty to cheer about with third place on the grid, the spotlight belonged to McLaren. Piastri, who hadn’t been able to match Norris in practice, found speed in qualifying that hadn’t been shown earlier in the weekend. His lap of 1:08.662 in Q3 set the benchmark. Norris responded, closing in by the tiniest of gaps, but was forced to settle for second.
Behind them, Verstappen slotted into third with a time of 1:08.925, and young French driver Isack Hadjar stole headlines of his own with a career-best P4 for Racing Bulls. George Russell put his Mercedes in fifth, followed by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in sixth and seventh. Liam Lawson, driving the other Racing Bulls machine, impressed again with eighth, while Carlos Sainz in the Williams and Fernando Alonso for Aston Martin completed the top ten.
Also Read:- Liverpool vs Arsenal – A Clash of Champions and Challengers
- Remembering Priya Marathe: A Fighter Who Left Too Soon
The qualifying sessions themselves were filled with drama. Q1 began under sunny skies but saw an early exit for Lance Stroll after contact with the barriers, forcing him to watch the rest of the action from the garage. Haas endured another difficult day, with both Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman eliminated early, joined by Nico Hulkenberg and Franco Colapinto.
Q2 featured a moment of surprise when Charles Leclerc reported spotting a fox near Turn 10. On track, Verstappen briefly took command before Norris surged back to the top with a 1:08.874. Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli narrowly missed the cut in 11th, while Yuki Tsunoda, Pierre Gasly, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Alex Albon also fell short.
The final shootout, though, was where the tension truly peaked. Piastri’s first flying lap put him on provisional pole. Norris came heartbreakingly close but couldn’t quite overturn his teammate’s advantage. Verstappen, pushed hard by the home fans, improved through the middle sector but ultimately stayed in third. Hadjar’s fourth-place finish cemented a breakthrough moment in his young career.
After climbing from his car, Piastri described the lap as “peaking at the right time,” admitting that while he hadn’t found extra speed in his problem corners, gains elsewhere had made the difference. With championship points still on the line, he remained cautious but delighted with the result.
Now, attention turns to Sunday. The Dutch Grand Prix is set to begin at 3pm local time, with fans around the world tuning in at varying hours. In the UK, lights out will be at 2pm, with live coverage beginning from 12:30pm on Sky Sports F1. The forecast suggests a dry afternoon despite morning rain, meaning strategy and outright pace will decide who conquers Zandvoort.
For McLaren, it’s a front-row lockout. For the fans, it’s shaping up to be a thrilling showdown between teammates, with Verstappen waiting just behind to spoil the party.
Read More:
0 Comments