Key takeaways
- Frustrated by soft tyres: Oscar Piastri qualified 4th for the Dutch GP Sprint, admitting disappointment after feeling the soft compound compromised his balance in SQ3.
- Covered by a tenth: Despite missing out on top spot, Piastri finished just 0.099s behind Sprint pole-sitter George Russell as McLaren’s new wavy rear wing update proved competitive.
- Turnaround from practice: The Australian praised setup tweaks made after Free Practice 1, where he had ended up over half a second adrift of teammate Lando Norris.
Oscar Piastri experienced mixed emotions after securing a row-two start in Sprint Qualifying for the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix at Circuit Zandvoort. Despite qualifying 4th and finishing just 0.099s off George Russell’s pole time, the Australian driver admitted to feeling a sense of disappointment.
Piastri noted that his McLaren MCL40 handled exceptionally well on the medium compound during SQ1 and SQ2. However, upon switching to the soft compound for the pole-deciding SQ3 shootout, he felt the overall balance fell away.
Speaking after the session, Piastri addressed the fine margins at the front, where teammate Lando Norris qualified 2nd and Charles Leclerc placed 3rd.
“A little bit,” Piastri admitted when asked if he was disappointed. “The lap on the soft tyre wasn’t that great. I feel like it’s been like that many times this year: you put the soft tyre on and the balance of the car isn’t quite as good as on the medium.”
Despite his frustration with the final run, Piastri emphasized the significant step forward made by McLaren following a difficult sole practice session earlier in the day.
“Compared to what I had this morning in practice, I was much more satisfied. We changed a few things and I was a lot happier. So I think that’s the positive takeaway: the progress from this morning,” he explained.
“Obviously, it was very tight. I feel like with a better lap, maybe we could have taken pole. But I’m learning and improving, and that’s the most important thing,” Piastri concluded.
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 5 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 |
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 Oscar Piastri start the Dutch GP Sprint race?
Oscar Piastri will start 4th on the grid for Saturday’s Sprint race in Zandvoort.
2. How far was Piastri from George Russell’s pole time?
Piastri missed out on pole position by 0.099s, finishing 0.058s behind teammate Lando Norris.
3. Did McLaren introduce updates at Zandvoort?
Yes, McLaren debuted a new wavy rear wing along with revised brake ducts and a modified engine cover.
