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Lando Norris produced a stunning final lap to claim pole position for the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix at Circuit Zandvoort, beating Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli in a thrilling qualifying session affected by rain.
The McLaren driver set a remarkable 1m 11.163s in Q3 to secure the top spot. With rain arriving during the final minutes, Norris timed his last attempt perfectly and found enough grip to improve his lap when several rivals struggled to match the pace.
Russell finished just 0.102 seconds behind Norris, while Antonelli completed the second row in third. Oscar Piastri, who looked particularly strong throughout qualifying, secured fourth place for McLaren.
Norris Delivers Under Pressure at Zandvoort
Qualifying appeared extremely competitive from the opening minutes. The leading drivers were separated by tiny margins, making every corner crucial around the fast and challenging Dutch circuit.
Piastri emerged as one of the strongest performers during the early stages, repeatedly setting competitive times. However, Norris saved his best performance for the decisive moment in Q3.
As rain began falling with around five minutes remaining, track conditions became increasingly difficult. Drivers had to decide whether to remain on slick tyres and risk losing grip or attempt another lap before the circuit became slower.
Russell managed to improve on his final attempt, but Norris responded with an even faster lap. His 1m 11.163s proved enough to secure his 18th Grand Prix pole position.
“I was pushing because you see how close it is, so you know every one-hundredth, two-hundredths can make a big difference,” Norris said after qualifying.
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Mercedes Pair Secure Second and Third
George Russell continued his impressive weekend by qualifying second. The Mercedes driver had already shown strong pace earlier in the weekend and remained one of Norris’s closest challengers throughout Q3.
Kimi Antonelli also delivered a competitive performance to take third. He finished only 0.031 seconds behind his Mercedes team mate, highlighting just how close the battle was.
Piastri had to settle for fourth despite appearing capable of fighting for pole position. His strong pace during Q1 and Q2 underlined McLaren’s competitiveness at Zandvoort.
Ferrari and Red Bull Miss Out on Pole
Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton qualified fifth, ahead of team mate Charles Leclerc in sixth. Neither Ferrari driver could find enough performance during the wet final minutes to challenge Norris for the front of the grid.
Max Verstappen qualified seventh for Red Bull, while Liam Lawson took eighth. Lawson’s performance was particularly notable as he remained close to Verstappen and delivered an impressive result on his return to the Red Bull team.
Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto completed ninth, with Arvid Lindblad rounding out the top 10.
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2026 Dutch Grand Prix Qualifying Results
| Position | Driver | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lando Norris | 1:11.163 |
| 2 | George Russell | 1:11.265 |
| 3 | Kimi Antonelli | 1:11.296 |
| 4 | Oscar Piastri | 1:11.305 |
| 5 | Lewis Hamilton | 1:11.494 |
| 6 | Charles Leclerc | — |
| 7 | Max Verstappen | — |
| 8 | Liam Lawson | — |
| 9 | Gabriel Bortoleto | — |
| 10 | Arvid Lindblad | — |
Sainz and Alonso Suffer Early Exits
Several established drivers endured disappointing qualifying sessions. Carlos Sainz was eliminated in Q1 after finishing just 0.022 seconds behind his team mate’s benchmark.
Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll also failed to progress from Q1 as Aston Martin continued to search for more performance from its upgraded power unit.
Ollie Bearman was eliminated in 20th, while Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez occupied the final two positions.
Pierre Gasly came closest to reaching Q3 among the midfield drivers but missed out by less than a tenth. Yuki Tsunoda qualified behind him, followed by Nico Hulkenberg, Franco Colapinto, Esteban Ocon and Alex Albon.
Norris Starts from Pole in a Crucial Dutch Grand Prix
Norris will now start the Dutch Grand Prix from the best possible position, with Russell and Antonelli directly behind him. McLaren has shown strong pace throughout qualifying, but changing weather conditions could make the race unpredictable.
With the front of the grid separated by tiny margins, the opening laps and tyre strategy could prove decisive. Norris will hope his pole position gives him the advantage needed to convert Saturday’s qualifying success into a major victory at Zandvoort.
