Oscar Piastri secured pole position for the Dutch Grand Prix by the narrowest of margins, beating his McLaren teammate Lando Norris in a qualifying session where mere thousandths of a second separated the championship rivals.
The Australian driver posted a time of 1:08.662 around the challenging Zandvoort circuit, finishing just 0.012 seconds ahead of Norris in a session dominated by the McLaren pair. The result gives Piastri the optimal starting position to extend his nine-point championship lead in Sunday’s race.
“It required significant effort and patience to find those final improvements,” Piastri commented. “The session demanded precision, and I’m pleased we managed to deliver when it counted.”
Norris, who had shown strong pace throughout practice, acknowledged the challenge ahead. “When the gap is this small, overtaking becomes particularly difficult,” the British driver noted. “We’re incredibly evenly matched, which makes every advantage crucial.”
Reigning world champion Max Verstappen could only manage third position in his Red Bull, more than two-tenths behind the leading McLarens. The Dutch driver continues to wrestle with handling issues that have plagued his car throughout the season.
Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar achieved a career-best fourth place, while Mercedes’ George Russell and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc completed the top six. Lewis Hamilton secured seventh for Ferrari, describing his qualifying performance as “one of the more solid sessions this year.”
The stage is set for an intense battle between the McLaren teammates, with track position proving particularly valuable at the technical Zandvoort circuit where overtaking opportunities are limited. With ten races remaining in the championship, every qualifying position could prove decisive in the title fight.
