Key takeaways
- Start-to-finish control: George Russell capitalized on a clean launch from pole position to win a straightforward Sprint race at Circuit Zandvoort.
- Soft tyre gamble: Charles Leclerc started on soft compounds and overtook Lando Norris with six laps remaining to claim 2nd place.
- Floor damage recovery: Andrea Kimi Antonelli made a quick move past Oscar Piastri at Turn 1 to recover to 4th place.
George Russell needed little more than a clean launch to seal victory in Saturday’s Sprint race at the Dutch Grand Prix. Starting on the clean side of the grid, the Mercedes driver covered off Lando Norris into Turn 1 and established a comfortable lead that he managed through to the checkered flag.
Norris spent the majority of the 24-lap distance under pressure from Charles Leclerc. The Ferrari driver was the sole competitor among the top ten starters to opt for soft tyres against the medium compounds utilized by the rest of the lead pack. Leclerc’s persistent pressure eventually paid off with six laps remaining, as he executed a pass on Norris into Turn 1 to secure 2nd place.
Behind the top three, Championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli launched well from 5th, sweeping past Oscar Piastri into Turn 1 to take 4th. The Italian maintained the position through the flag despite carrying residual floor damage from his Friday qualifying incident.
Further down the order, Gabriel Bortoleto defended 9th position against Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad to lead Audi’s efforts, as teammate Nico Hülkenberg retired on lap 5 due to mechanical issues. Meanwhile, Sergio Pérez experienced a pre-race issue on the formation lap, wheeling his Cadillac back into the pit lane before joining three laps down to collect operational data.
Lando Norris finished 3rd in the Zandvoort Sprint (Photo: McLaren)
Formula 1 action continues at Zandvoort with main Qualifying for the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix. GRANDE PRÊMIO covers all track activities live from Zandvoort with reporter Leonid Kliuev. Follow all paddock updates on our news page.
Sprint race results: Dutch Grand Prix 2026
| Pos | Driver | Team | Laps | Gap |
| 1 | George Russell | Mercedes | 24 | Leader |
| 2 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 24 | +1.360s |
| 3 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 24 | +5.196s |
| 4 | Andrea Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 24 | +5.581s |
| 5 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 24 | +10.581s |
| 6 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 24 | +10.529s |
| 7 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 24 | +12.188s |
| 8 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 24 | +42.510s |
| 9 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Audi | 24 | +44.437s |
| 10 | Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls | 24 | +44.971s |
| 11 | Liam Lawson | Red Bull | 24 | +47.471s |
| 12 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine | 24 | +54.466s |
| 13 | Yuki Tsunoda | Racing Bulls | 24 | +56.483s |
| 14 | Esteban Ocon | Haas | 24 | +66.098s |
| 15 | Oliver Bearman | Haas | 24 | +66.588s |
| 16 | Alexander Albon | Williams | 24 | +74.632s |
| 17 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 24 | +74.650s |
| 18 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 24 | +75.284s |
| 19 | Valtteri Bottas | Cadillac | 23 | +1 Lap |
| 20 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | 23 | +1 Lap |
| 21 | Sergio Pérez | Cadillac | 21 | +3 Laps |
| NC | Nico Hülkenberg | Audi | 5 | DNF |
Session schedule: Dutch Grand Prix 2026
| Session | Local time (CEST) | UTC |
| Qualifying | Saturday, August 22 – 16:00 | 14:00 |
| Race | Sunday, August 23 – 15:00 | 13:00 |
Broadcast guide: Where to watch in the United States
- United States (Eastern Time / ET)
- Broadcaster: Apple TV
- Qualifying: Saturday, August 22 – 10:00 ET
- Race: Sunday, August 23 – 09:00 ET
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
1. Who won the Dutch Grand Prix Sprint race?
George Russell won the Sprint race for Mercedes, leading from start to finish at Zandvoort.
2. Which tyre compound did Charles Leclerc use during the Sprint?
Charles Leclerc was the only driver in the top ten to start on soft tyres, utilizing the extra grip to overtake Lando Norris for 2nd place.
3. Did drivers earn World Championship points in the Sprint race?
Yes, points were awarded to the top eight finishers: Russell (8), Leclerc (7), Norris (6), Antonelli (5), Piastri (4), Verstappen (3), Hamilton (2), and Gasly (1).
