Key takeaways
- Surprise pole: Lando Norris expressed surprise after edging out George Russell by 0.102s to claim pole position for the Dutch Grand Prix.
- Setup adjustments: McLaren made minor setup tweaks between the Sprint race and main Qualifying to give Norris the extra confidence required to push at Zandvoort.
- Front-row turnaround: After losing out to Russell in Friday’s Sprint Qualifying and getting passed by Charles Leclerc during the Sprint race, Norris successfully flipped the narrative for Sunday’s grid.
Lando Norris struck an optimistic tone after securing pole position for the Dutch Grand Prix, praising McLaren for executing key setup adjustments that allowed him to push to the limit around Circuit Zandvoort.
McLaren had shown strong single-lap pace during Friday’s Sprint Qualifying, but after dropping behind Charles Leclerc during Saturday morning’s Sprint race, Norris acknowledged that the team needed to unlock performance gains ahead of main Qualifying.
The World Champion delivered when it mattered most, setting a 1:11.163 benchmark in Q3 to beat Mercedes rival George Russell by 0.102 seconds. Speaking in parc fermé, Norris admitted the result exceeded his immediate expectations.
“I’m a bit surprised, to be honest. It was a decent lap where I was pushing really hard because I knew how small the gaps were—0.010s or 0.020s can make a massive difference here,” Norris said. “It was a positive turn of events compared to what we had this morning. The team did a great job extracting a bit more performance from the car, and that definitely helped.”
Norris emphasized that while the setup adjustments were subtle, they provided the handling confidence necessary to extract maximum pace on the high-banked, narrow Dutch circuit.
“We had to try something because our previous configuration wasn’t quite enough. We made a few small changes—nothing that magically gives you two-tenths, but enough to give me more confidence around a track like Zandvoort,” Norris concluded.
Formula 1 action continues at Zandvoort on Sunday 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.
Session schedule: Dutch Grand Prix 2026
| Session | Local time (CEST) | UTC |
| 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
- Race: Sunday, August 23 – 09:00 ET
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
1. What margin did Lando Norris take pole position by in Zandvoort?
Lando Norris took pole position by 0.102 seconds ahead of Mercedes driver George Russell.
2. Where did Lando Norris finish in the Zandvoort Sprint race?
Norris finished 3rd in Saturday’s Sprint race behind George Russell and Charles Leclerc.
3. Who will share the front row with Lando Norris for Sunday’s race?
George Russell will line up 2nd alongside Norris on the front row of the grid.
