George Russell took pole position for the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix Sprint after a close Sprint Qualifying session at Zandvoort. The Mercedes driver beat Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli qualified fifth.
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SQ1: Antonelli Recovers After Difficult Start
Kimi Antonelli had a difficult start to Sprint Qualifying. The championship leader ran wide during the session but recovered to reach SQ2.
Charles Leclerc showed strong pace and set an early benchmark for Ferrari. The battle in the midfield was also close, with several drivers fighting to avoid elimination.
Fernando Alonso, Lance Stroll and Carlos Sainz were among the drivers who could not make it through the first part of Sprint Qualifying.
Out: Bearman, Sainz, Stroll, Bottas, Perez, Alonso
SQ2: McLaren Sets the Pace
McLaren looked strong in SQ2, with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris near the top of the timing sheet. Pierre Gasly also continued his good performance with the upgraded Alpine.
Max Verstappen made it through to SQ3, but he was not among the fastest drivers in this part of the session. Antonelli also continued to fight for pace as he prepared for the final shootout.
Liam Lawson, Nico Hulkenberg and Alexander Albon were among those eliminated before SQ3.
Out: Lawson, Tsunoda, Colapinto, Hulkenberg, Ocon, Albon
SQ3: Russell Takes Sprint Pole
The final eight-minute session decided the top 10 positions for Saturday’s Sprint. The drivers switched to soft tires for the final fight for pole.
Norris set an early benchmark, but Russell delivered when it mattered. His 1:11.567 lap was enough for first place.
Norris finished just 0.041 seconds behind Russell. Leclerc was third, only 0.055 seconds from pole, while Piastri took fourth.
Antonelli qualified fifth, ahead of Max Verstappen. Lewis Hamilton was seventh, followed by Pierre Gasly, Gabriel Bortoleto and Arvid Lindblad.
What to Expect in Saturday’s Sprint
Russell will start the 2026 Dutch GP Sprint from pole, with Norris alongside him on the front row. Leclerc and Piastri will start from the second row, while Antonelli and Verstappen will line up behind them.
With Russell, Norris, Leclerc and Piastri separated by less than one tenth in SQ3, the fight for the Sprint win could be close.
The full results of the sprint qualifying according to FIA.com:
