Lando Norris claimed pole position for the 2026 FIA Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix, beating George Russell by 0.102 seconds in a tense conclusion to Qualifying at Zandvoort.

With rain approaching the seaside circuit during Q3, the McLaren driver improved on his final lap to post a time of 1m11.163s. Sprint winner Russell also found time on his last attempt but fell short with a 1m11.265s, while Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli completed the top three.

McLaren had set the pace throughout the session, with Oscar Piastri quickest in Q1 before Norris headed Q2. The reigning world champion then took provisional pole early in Q3 on 1m11.344s, placing him 0.151s clear of Russell and two tenths ahead of Piastri.

Qualifying began in dry conditions, giving the field an opportunity to attack the circuit without interruption. Piastri’s early pace put McLaren on top in Q1, but Norris responded as the session developed and led the second phase. The margins tightened in Q3, where the changing weather placed added importance on track position, tyre preparation and timing. With no guarantee that the circuit would remain dry, the leading contenders could not afford to abandon their final attempts.

As the threat of rain intensified, the remaining runners hurried back onto the circuit for a final attempt. Norris and Russell emerged from the pit lane together and ran closely on their preparation laps before creating enough space to begin their decisive runs.

Norris crossed the line first and lowered the benchmark by almost two tenths. Russell improved moments later but remained one tenth adrift, having displaced Antonelli, who had briefly moved to the top during the closing sequence.

Piastri secured fourth, just 0.142s away from his team-mate, while Ferrari locked out the third row. Lewis Hamilton took fifth on 1m11.494s, ahead of Charles Leclerc by 0.064s.

Home favourite Max Verstappen qualified seventh for Red Bull, 0.455s off pole. He will share row four with temporary team-mate Liam Lawson, who is deputising for the injured Isack Hadjar. Gabriel Bortoleto placed his Audi ninth, with Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad completing the top 10 after reaching Q3 for a fifth consecutive event.

Pierre Gasly narrowly missed the final segment and will start 11th for Alpine, one position ahead of returning Racing Bulls driver Yuki Tsunoda. Nico Hülkenberg’s late improvement earned him 13th, ahead of Franco Colapinto and Esteban Ocon.

Alexander Albon took 16th for Williams after dropping out in Q2, while team-mate Carlos Sainz was eliminated in the opening phase by just 0.022s. Sainz will line up 17th, followed by the Aston Martins of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.

Oliver Bearman ended Qualifying in 20th for Haas. Cadillac filled the final row, with Valtteri Bottas in 21st and Sergio Pérez 22nd, the pair more than three seconds away from Norris’s pole time.

2026 FIA Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix – Qualifying 
1 Lando Norris McLaren/Mercedes 1:11.163 - -
2 George Russell Mercedes 1:11.265 0.102 0.143
3 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 1:11.296 0.133 0.187
4 Oscar Piastri McLaren/Mercedes 1:11.305 0.142 0.200
5 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 1:11.494 0.331 0.465
6 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:11.558 0.395 0.555
7 Max Verstappen Red Bull/Red Bull Ford 1:11.618 0.455 0.639
8 Liam Lawson Red Bull/Red Bull Ford 1:11.733 0.570 0.801
9 Gabriel Bortoleto Audi 1:12.079 0.916 1.287
10 Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls/Red Bull Ford 1:12.185 1.022 1.436
11 Pierre Gasly Alpine/Mercedes 1:12.616 1.453 2.042
12 Yuki Tsunoda Racing Bulls/Red Bull Ford 1:12.627 1.464 2.057
13 Nico Hülkenberg Audi 1:12.797 1.634 2.296
14 Franco Colapinto Alpine/Mercedes 1:12.800 1.637 2.300
15 Esteban Ocon Haas/Ferrari 1:13.137 1.974 2.774
16 Alexander Albon Williams/Mercedes 1:13.182 2.019 2.837
17 Carlos Sainz Williams/Mercedes 1:13.574 2.411 3.388
18 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin/Honda 1:13.650 2.487 3.495
19 Lance Stroll Aston Martin/Honda 1:13.818 2.655 3.731
20 Oliver Bearman Haas/Ferrari 1:13.826 2.663 3.742
21 Valtteri Bottas Cadillac/Ferrari 1:14.371 3.208 4.508
22 Sergio Pérez Cadillac/Ferrari 1:14.600 3.437 4.830