Norris beats Russell to pole position at Zandvoort

Lando Norris beat George Russell to pole position for the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort on 22 August 2026, edging Russell by 0.102 seconds during a frantic late qualifying session.

Teams brought runs forward amid the threat of rain, and raindrops were already appearing on drivers' visors as the field completed flying laps earlier than normal. Norris secured the top spot he had grabbed on the opening runs of the final session and then held off Russell's challenge. Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli briefly rose to the top after improving on his final lap before being displaced.

Antonelli, the championship leader, ultimately landed behind Russell by 0.031secs and was 0.009secs faster than McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri. Norris beat both to claim the pole position in the closing stages of qualifying.

The heavier rain that had been feared did not arrive in force, and Lewis Hamilton, who delayed his final attempt until late in the session, moved ahead of team-mate Charles Leclerc. The two Ferraris filled the third row in fifth and sixth places respectively.

Max Verstappen will start his final home grand prix from seventh place, with the Dutch race set to leave the calendar after this season. His stand-in team-mate Liam Lawson, deputising for Frenchman Isack Hadjar who broke his wrist in the run-up to the race, was only 0.0115secs slower than Verstappen and took eighth.

The top ten was completed by the Audi of Gabriel Bortoleto in ninth and Racing Bulls' British rookie Arvid Lindblad in tenth.

The qualifying order sets the starting grid for this season's Dutch Grand Prix, Verstappen's final home race before the event falls off the calendar after this season.