Key takeaways
- Setup setback: Lewis Hamilton was disappointed with 7th place in Dutch GP Sprint Qualifying, noting subtle setup tweaks made after FP1 resulted in a “completely different car.”
- Contrasting Ferrari fortunes: While Hamilton struggled to get comfortable in SQ3, teammate Charles Leclerc qualified 3rd, within 0.055s of Sprint pole-sitter George Russell.
- Upgrades introduced: Ferrari entered the weekend with a fresh floor upgrade and new exhaust systems for both drivers.
Lewis Hamilton expressed frustration after qualifying 7th for the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix Sprint race, pointing to handling issues that emerged following setup adjustments made between sessions.
The British driver had a promising start to the weekend at Circuit Zandvoort, finishing 4th in the opening practice session ahead of Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc. However, during Sprint Qualifying, Hamilton found himself 0.624s adrift of Sprint pole-sitter George Russell as he struggled to find grip and balance in SQ3.
Speaking after the session, Hamilton explained that while the baseline setup worked well in practice, small changes made prior to qualifying altered the car’s behavior significantly.
“It wasn’t a good session, unfortunately. It is what it is. Practice felt good, and we made some subtle tweaks to the car, but when we got into Sprint Qualifying, it was a completely different car. So we need to understand what went wrong, and then we’ll do our best tomorrow,” Hamilton analyzed.
“We’ll go through the data and make a decision. We need to analyze everything to figure out what happened. Charles was in a slightly different situation than me, a bit closer to where I was in practice. That’s just how it went,” he concluded.
While Hamilton dropped back, Leclerc capitalized on Ferrari’s new floor updates to qualify 3rd, slotting right behind Russell and McLaren’s Lando Norris. Both Ferrari drivers also introduced fresh exhaust systems ahead of track action.
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 Top 10 Results: Dutch Grand Prix 2026
| 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 |
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 |
Broadcast guide: Where to watch in the United States
- United States (Eastern Time / ET)
- Broadcaster: Apple TV
- Sprint Race: Saturday, August 22 – 06:00 ET
- Qualifying: Saturday, August 22 – 10:00 ET
- Race: Sunday, August 23 – 09:00 ET
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
1. Where will Lewis Hamilton start the Dutch GP Sprint race?
Lewis Hamilton will start 7th on the grid for Saturday’s Sprint race in Zandvoort.
2. Why did Hamilton struggle in Sprint Qualifying?
Hamilton stated that subtle setup adjustments made after Free Practice 1 significantly altered the car’s balance, making it difficult to find consistency in SQ3.
3. Did Ferrari bring new parts to Zandvoort?
Yes, Ferrari debuted new floor updates and installed new exhaust systems on both Hamilton and Leclerc’s cars.
