Max Verstappen holds off Charles Leclerc to take pole position at his home grand prix while Sergio Perez crashes out during Dutch GP qualifying.

Max Verstappen holds off Charles Leclerc to take pole position at his home grand prix while Sergio Perez crashes out during Dutch GP qualifying. Championship leader Max Verstappen will start from pole position for the Dutch Grand Prix after grabbing pole position from Charles Leclerc with a stunning final lap in a competitive qualifier at Zandvoort. Verstappen, who put a miserable start to the weekend behind him, beat Leclerc by just 0.021 seconds in his final effort, with Carlos Sainz also within a tenth of a second of the first Red Bull for Ferrari. Lewis Hamilton joined the fray during a thrilling penalty and might have had a shot at pole position, but was denied the chance after a dramatic spin at the penultimate corner for Sergio Perez that brought out yellow flags. Hamilton would eventually finish three tenths back in fourth, while George Russell was also hampered by Perez’s mistake and finished behind the other Red Bull in sixth. “It’s very disappointing – we were second to Leclerc and Verstappen, so Lewis was on pole,” team boss Toto Wolff insisted. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player A flare on the track causes a red flag during qualifying at the Dutch GP.
A flare on the track causes a red flag during qualifying at the Dutch GP. Verstappen, meanwhile, said: “Unbelievable. It’s special. Especially after yesterday. We had a difficult day but we worked really well all night with the whole team to turn it around.” A sell-out sea of ​​orange cheered their world champion Verstappen on Saturday and at one stage in qualifying he went a step too far as a flare was thrown onto the track to prompt a red flag. But Verstappen was right against him to claim pole in the final phase of the session, with Leclerc taking provisional pole with the first lap of Q3 before following it up with another improvement. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player Karun Chandhok analyzes the qualifying laps of Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc as they went head-to-head for pole at the Dutch GP.
Karun Chandhok analyzes the qualifying laps of Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc as they went head-to-head for pole at the Dutch GP. Verstappen fell to his title rival at the start of his crucial lap but put in a strong midfield to help him to his fourth pole of 2022, sparking wild scenes in the stands. Verstappen, who has a 93-point title lead and is well on his way to defending his crown, will aim for his 10th win of the season on Sunday. Dutch GP Qualifying: Top 101) Max Verstappen, Red Bull2) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari3) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari4) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes5) Sergio Perez, Red Bull6) George Russell, Mercedes7) Lando Norris, McLaren8) Mick Schumacher, Haas9) Tsunoda , AlphaTauri10) Lance Stroll, Aston Martin

flares, pigeons and Ricciardo alas | The other stories from Qualy

In a weekend where McLaren won an important battle against Alpine off-track by securing Oscar Piastri for 2023, they were also quicker at it – with Lando Norris once again stamping his star quality. Norris, while not in the race at the front as his pace on Friday suggested, comfortably claimed seventh. This result was all the more impressive given that Daniel Ricciardo was knocked out in Q1, his poor form continuing. There were three related surprises elsewhere in the top 10 in Mick Schumacher, Yuki Tsunoda and Lance Stroll, although the Aston Martin driver was ruled out for a lap in Q3 due to a car problem. Both Alps were unexpectedly ruled out in Q2 – with Fernando Alonso accusing Red Bull’s Perez of getting in the way of his lap – while the second division also hosted a strange series of events. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player Alex Albon’s lap was interrupted by pigeons on the track during qualifying at the Dutch GP.
Alex Albon’s lap was interrupted by pigeons on the track during qualifying at the Dutch GP. Alex Albon was the only driver out at the start of Q2 when red flags were waved due to orange flares being thrown from the pits onto the track, while the Williams driver also complained that the pigeons were bothering him. The flare and the perpetrator were quickly moved away, while an F1 marshal chased away the pigeons as well. Making a shock exit from Q1 alongside Ricciardo was Sebastian Vettel, with the soon-to-be-retired Aston Martin legend running into the gravel in his final attempt.

Mercedes’ missed opportunity and Rosberg’s race prediction

Five drivers were expected to be in contention for pole on Saturday and even in the closing stages those five – Verstappen, Leclerc, Sainz, Hamilton and Russell – had a chance. But while the top three managed to complete their final laps without a hitch, that was not the case for the Mercedes drivers after Perez’s late spin. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player Mercedes boss Toto Wolff was left frustrated after Sergio Perez’s late spin in Q3, which he believes could deny Lewis Hamilton pole for the Dutch GP.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff was left frustrated after Sergio Perez’s late spin in Q3, which he believes could deny Lewis Hamilton pole for the Dutch GP. “To come through Q1 and Q2 and be only a tenth behind a Red Bull was a great feeling,” said Hamilton. “It really gave me a lot of hope that I could fight for the front row, but obviously the yellow flag at the end was a bit unfortunate.” Mercedes boss Toto Wolff went a step further, insisting Hamilton had pole in the bag. But as Sky Sports F1’s Nico Rosberg said, Mercedes’ pace in qualifying and Ferrari’s similarly improved presence boost Sunday’s race, which is live on Sky Sports F1 at 2pm with warm-up from 12.30pm. m. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc has identified Turn 10 as the main reason for losing pole position at Circuit Zandvoort to Max Verstappen.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc has identified Turn 10 as the main reason for losing pole position at Circuit Zandvoort to Max Verstappen. “Max still has a place on the track so you probably say he has to be the favourite, he’s also generally on it and in great form as a driver,” said Rosberg, the 2016 world champion. “But it will be very interesting because Ferrari are likely to split the strategy and let’s see if Lewis can play a role there as well. “If Mercedes find the usual improvement in pace from qualifying to race, or even just a fraction of that, Lewis will be right there putting a lot of pressure on. And Lewis is quick in the races as we know. “So I think we’re in for a really exciting one and I’m looking forward to seeing how it plays out.”

Dutch GP qualifying time sheet

                Team Time 8) Max Verstappen Red Bull 1:10.342 1) Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.021 2) Carlos Sainz Ferrari +0.092 3) Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +0.306 12) Sergio Perez Red Bull +0.735 5) Georges Russ.  Lando Norris McLaren +0.832 13) Mick Schumacher Haas …