***RacerViews coverage of the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship was delayed this week due to staff holiday***
Lando Norris claimed pole in Zandoort in stunning fashion, bumping local-hero Max Verstappen from the top step in preparation for Sunday’s Dutch Grand Prix as teammate Oscar Piastri rounded out the top three. Holding the quickest time during the initial runs in Q3, Norris would push his McLaren to the limit, dropping Verstappen from the top spot during the final runs as the Dutchman briefly held the top spot.
HIGHLIGHTS: Watch the qualifying action at Zandvoort as Norris charges to pole and Hamilton suffers Q2 exit
Q1 Results:
With a lack of running in FP3 as a result of Logan Sargeant’s massive shunt, questions remained as to the true pace of each team as qualifying kicked off at 15:00 local time. With Sargeant unable to take place in the session per the FIA’s decision as his Williams team worked on repairing the severely damaged machine, nineteen drivers took to the track as the lights went green on the first qualifying session of the afternoon.
Drivers took to the track quickly as the sun broke through the clouds with many on the soft compound tires as Lewis Hamilton went quickest after the first runs, though Norris and Verstappen were less than two hundredths back from him. Despite the quick pace, Hamilton found himself at risk for a penalty as Sergio Perez called into his team that he was impeded on his quick lap as he had to lift to avoid the slow Mercedes.
As the queue formed for the final runs, several big names were at risk to transfer to Q2, including Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez, but both drivers were able to push in laps quick enough to secure a spot as the much maligned Red Bull driver took the quickest time at the end of the session.
Drivers out in Q1:
- 16th: Daniel Ricciardo (RB)
- 17th: Esteban Ocon (Alpine)
- 18th: Valtteri Bottas (Kick Sauber)
- 19th: Zhou Guanyu (Kick Sauber)
- 20th: Logan Sargeant (Williams) (DNQ)
Q2 Results:
The shock of Q2 was the elimination of the last race winner, Lewis Hamilton, and the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz. Both Ferrari’s were quick to put a lap on the board early in Q2, but soon saw title rivals McLaren and Mercedes challenge and subsequently surpass the Scuderia.
As the clock wound down, Sainz fell into dangerous territory in 10th on the sheets as he found himself at the mercy of the bottom five drivers. Pierre Gasly would be fist to improve along with Yuki Tsunoda as both drivers leapt into the top 10 while Alex Albon put on a heroic effort to push his Williams to 5th, pushing Sainz out of the top 10 along with Hamilton. Tsunoda however, was unable to maintain his pace and joined Sainz and Hamilton with an early exit.
Drivers out in Q2:
- 11th: Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
- 12th: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
- 13th: Yuki Tsunoda (RB)
- 14th: Nico Hulkenberg (Haas)
- 15th: Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
Q3 Results:
The threat once again for rain forced drivers to the circuit quickly in Q3 as Lando Norris set the pace ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri. Verstappen ended his initial run in 3rd ahead of the Mercedes of George Russell and the Ferrari of Charles LeClerc as positions 6-10 looked to be anyone’s to lose.
As the track fell to a lull, Aston Martin sent Alonso and Stroll out on a clear track to take advantage of the clean air, allowing Alonso to nab a preliminary 5th ahead of Stroll in 7th.
But with the final runs looming, it was all eyes on Norris and Verstappen as the Dutch driver sent the crowd into a frenzy as he went to provisional pole before being usurped by Norris. The McLaren drivers time of 1:09.673s was three tenths up on the Red Bull and secured his pole position for the start of Sunday’s Grand Prix ahead of Verstappen and Piastri.
George Russell was less than a tenth away from Piastri for 4th position while Sergio Perez qualified fifth ahead of LeClerc, Alonso, Albon, Stroll, and Pierre Gasly.
With the grid set, it’s all to play for Sunday as Verstappen looks to remain perfect at home, but will it be a banner day for McLaren? We’ll find out tomorrow at 15:00 local time.
Free Practice 1 Report: CLICK HERE
Free Practice 2 Report: CLICK HERE
Free Practice 3 Report: CLICK HERE
FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN DUTCH GRAND PRIX 2024 Schedule
| Date | Session | Time (Local Circuit) |
| August 23rd | Practice 1 | 12:30 – 13:30 |
| Practice 2 | 16:00 – 17:00 | |
| August 24th | Practice 3 | 11:30 – 12:30 |
| Qualifying | 15:00 – 16:00 | |
| August 25th | Race | 15:00 |
Qualifying Results
Pos | No | Driver | Car | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 1:11.377 | 1:10.496 | 1:09.673 | 14 |
2 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:11.393 | 1:10.811 | 1:10.029 | 14 |
3 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | 1:11.541 | 1:10.505 | 1:10.172 | 16 |
4 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:11.049 | 1:10.552 | 1:10.244 | 18 |
5 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:11.006 | 1:10.678 | 1:10.416 | 17 |
6 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:11.370 | 1:10.689 | 1:10.582 | 24 |
7 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:11.493 | 1:10.845 | 1:10.633 | 16 |
DQ | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams Mercedes | 0 | |||
8 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:11.518 | 1:10.661 | 1:10.857 | 19 |
9 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault | 1:11.718 | 1:10.815 | 1:10.977 | 20 |
10 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | 1:11.327 | 1:10.914 | 18 | |
11 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1:11.375 | 1:10.948 | 13 | |
12 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | RB Honda RBPT | 1:11.603 | 1:10.955 | 15 | |
13 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas Ferrari | 1:11.832 | 1:11.215 | 17 | |
14 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas Ferrari | 1:11.630 | 1:11.295 | 15 | |
15 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | RB Honda RBPT | 1:11.943 | 9 | ||
16 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine Renault | 1:11.995 | 9 | ||
17 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:12.168 | 9 | ||
18 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:13.261 | 9 |
