Oscar Piastri stormed to pole at the Dutch Grand Prix, beating teammate Lando Norris by a razor-thin 0.012 seconds as gusty winds played havoc with Q3 laps at Zandvoort. The pole extends Piastri’s streak to five for the season, underscoring McLaren’s pace advantage and setting up a tantalizing Sunday battle with Norris on the front row.
Piastri’s pole came after a tense duel with Norris, who looked the stronger of the two in practice and on the first runs in Q3. The pair pushed each other to the limit, but a final-lap shake-up in the wind prevented either McLaren from improving, leaving Piastri just ahead at the checkered flag. “That was the definition of peaking at the right time,” Piastri said. “The whole weekend I felt good… I didn’t really go faster in a couple of corners but found some more elsewhere. Super happy to come away with this result.” He added that the two teammates are always pushing to beat each other, with a few variables that can swing outcomes on any weekend.
Norris, while disappointed not to snatch pole, acknowledged the closeness of the fight: “It’s been close the whole weekend, so easily could go one way or the other.” He will line up next to Piastri on the front row and knows a win is still within reach.
A home-hero hierarchy shift is not far off, as Verstappen started third for Red Bull, just 0.263 seconds behind Piastri despite earlier struggles in practice. The Dutch crowd’s energy was undeniable, with Verstappen noting the orange-clad support as a “very special” sight as he chases his first win at home this season.
Isack Hadjar impressed with the best qualifying result of his short F1 career, slotting his Racing Bulls into fourth, ahead of George Russell’s Mercedes in fifth. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton followed, finishing sixth and seventh respectively, narrowly separated by 0.05 seconds.
Liam Lawson lined up eighth for Racing Point/Bulls, with Carlos Sainz ninth for Williams and Fernando Alonso tenth for Aston Martin making up the top ten. Andrea Kimi Antonelli narrowly missed Q3 and will start 11th, with Yuki Tsunoda and Gabriel Bortoleto clocking identical times but Tsunoda ahead due to setting his time earlier in the session.
Pierre Gasly starts 14th for Alpine, with Alexander Albon 15th in the Williams. Franco Colapinto was 16th in the Alpine, while Haas teammates Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman were the slowest on the day in 18th and 19th. Lance Stroll ended the session last after crashing entering the final corner on his first flying lap in Q1, tipping a wheel onto the grass before the barriers halted his progress. He admitted the mistake and called the result frustrating.
Standings-wise, Piastri leads Norris by nine points, and a victory on Sunday would push that margin into double figures as McLaren look to consolidate their grip on the title fight.
Top facts to watch for the race:
– Piastri grabbed his fifth pole of 2025, a clear sign of McLaren’s strong single-lap pace.
– Norris is right on his pace, giving McLaren a genuine one-two threat on Sunday.
– Verstappen’s third places him firmly in the mix, eager to convert pace into home success.
– Hadjar’s rise continues, signaling a bright future for Racing Bulls.
– Stroll’s exit will overshadow the start of the weekend, forcing Aston Martin to regroup in the race.
Summary and outlook:
McLaren’s qualifying performance at Zandvoort reaffirms their dominance in pure pace, especially in a season where Piastri has repeatedly shown he can extract the best from the car when it counts. With the wind conditions likely to mix up strategies and tire choices, Sunday promises a compelling duel in the dunes, with Piastri aiming to build a substantial lead in the standings and Norris aiming to close the gap. The Dutch crowd should be treated to a high-stakes, close-fought race as the title contenders push for victory. If McLaren can maintain the pace and manage the wind shifts, a thrilling result could be on the cards and keep the championship race very much alive.