Key takeaways
- Russell on pole: George Russell edged Lando Norris by just 0.041s to secure pole position for the Dutch Grand Prix Sprint race.
- Leclerc locks in third: Charles Leclerc placed his Ferrari on the second row, slotting behind Norris and ahead of championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
- McLaren in the mix: Despite missing out on top spot, McLaren’s new wavy rear wing update helped Norris push Mercedes to the wire in Zandvoort.
George Russell snatched pole position for Saturday’s Sprint race at the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix after delivering a precision lap in SQ3 at Circuit Zandvoort. The Mercedes driver clocked a 1:11.567 to top the timing screens, edging McLaren’s Lando Norris by a mere 0.041s.
Norris, who showcased strong pace throughout the short qualifying session following McLaren’s rear aerodynamic upgrades, held provisional pole in the dying moments before Russell crossed the line to reset the benchmark. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc completed a tight top three, finishing just 0.055s off the leading pace.
Oscar Piastri landed the second McLaren in fourth position, while Championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli completed the top five. Max Verstappen finished sixth on home soil, followed by Lewis Hamilton and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly. Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto and Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad locked in ninth and tenth respectively.
Formula 1 action continues at Zandvoort with Saturday’s Sprint race, followed by 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 Qualifying Results: Dutch Grand Prix 2026 (All 22 Drivers)
| Pos | Driver | Team | Time | Gap |
| 1 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:11.567 | — |
| 2 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:11.608 | +0.041s |
| 3 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:11.622 | +0.055s |
| 4 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:11.666 | +0.099s |
| 5 | Andrea Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:11.794 | +0.227s |
| 6 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:12.094 | +0.527s |
| 7 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:12.191 | +0.624s |
| 8 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 1:12.578 | +1.011s |
| 9 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Audi | 1:12.583 | +1.016s |
| 10 | Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls | 1:12.737 | +1.170s |
| 11 | Liam Lawson | Red Bull | 1:13.136 | +1.569s |
| 12 | Yuki Tsunoda | Racing Bulls | 1:13.145 | +1.578s |
| 13 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine | 1:13.439 | +1.872s |
| 14 | Nico Hülkenberg | Audi | 1:13.616 | +2.049s |
| 15 | Esteban Ocon | Haas | 1:13.893 | +2.326s |
| 16 | Alexander Albon | Williams | 1:14.294 | +2.727s |
| 17 | Oliver Bearman | Haas | 1:14.728 | +3.161s |
| 18 | Carlos Sainz Jr. | Williams | 1:14.738 | +3.171s |
| 19 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 1:15.391 | +3.824s |
| 20 | Valtteri Bottas | Cadillac | 1:15.472 | +3.905s |
| 21 | Sergio Pérez | Cadillac | 1:15.545 | +3.978s |
| 22 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:16.014 | +4.447s |
Session schedule: Dutch Grand Prix 2026
| Session | Local time (CEST) | UTC |
| Free Practice 1 | Friday, August 21 – 12:30 | 10:30 |
| Sprint Qualifying | Friday, August 21 – 16:30 | 14:30 |
| Sprint Race | Saturday, August 22 – 12:00 | 10:00 |
| Qualifying | Saturday, August 22 – 16:00 | 14:00 |
| Race | Sunday, August 23 – 15:00 | 13:00 |
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
1. Who won pole position for the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix Sprint?
George Russell claimed Sprint pole position for Mercedes, beating McLaren’s Lando Norris by 0.041s.
2. Are grid penalties applied to the Sprint race?
No. Grid penalties for exceeding power unit component limits apply to Sunday’s main Grand Prix grid rather than the Sprint session.
3. When takes place the next session at Zandvoort?
The Sprint race takes place on Saturday at 12:00 local time (CEST).
