McLaren Stays Strong As Norris Takes Dutch G.P. Pole

Lando Norris in action Saturday at Circuit Zandvoort in the Netherlands. (McLaren photo)

ZANDVOORT, Netherlands – McLaren kept their midseason momentum going coming out of Formula One’s annual summer break during qualifying for the Heineken Dutch Grand Prix on Saturday.

Lando Norris cruised to his third pole position in the past six races with a time of 1:09.673 around the 2.646-mile, 14-turn Circuit Zandvoort, setting a new lap record in the process.

It marked the 24-year-old Brit’s fourth career F-1 pole and his first at Zandvoort, as he chases his second grand prix victory of the season.

“An impressive Saturday. It’s nice to be back starting the second half of the season with pole position,” said Norris, who led the final two knockout rounds. “Qualifying was pretty smooth, with good laps, especially the last one. The conditions today made it a little more challenging, and with every lap you had to reassess how much more you could push and where the limits were.

“I felt very comfortable today; the car was strong, and the team has done a great job so far, so a big thank you to them for their hard work,” Norris continued. “I’m sure Max [Verstappen] will put up a good fight at his home race tomorrow, but I’m looking forward to it and will work hard overnight to prepare with the team.”

Home hero Verstappen, the three-time defending F-1 champion and three-time defending Dutch Grand Prix winner, starts alongside Norris in second after a Q3 lap of 1:10.029 in his Red Bull entry.

Verstappen is seeking an eighth win in 15 races this season, with a 78-point lead in his quest for a fourth consecutive world title.

Norris’ teammate Oscar Piastri starts third (1:10.172) ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell (1:10.244) and the second Red Bull of Sergio Perez (1:10.416).

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, Williams’ Alex Albon, Alonso’s teammate Lance Stroll, and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly completed the top 10 qualifiers.

Unfortunately for Albon, his car was disqualified after time trials were completed due to an issue with the floor of his heavily-updated race car.

The penalty drops him to the rear of the 20-car starting field, promoting Gasly to ninth and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz to 10th.

“Alex [was] disqualified from qualifying due to his floor body being outside the regulatory volume set by the FIA," Williams said in a team statement. “We are incredibly disappointed with this outcome, will be carrying out a thorough investigation, and will provide an update soon.”

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time F-1 champion who has won two of the last three races and 105 in his legendary career, was eliminated during Q2 and only mustered a 12th-place qualifying effort.

However, Hamilton was later penalized for impeding Perez’s Q2 lap, dropping him to 15th on the grid before Albon’s disqualification. The 39-year-old will officially roll off 14th Sunday.

United States broadcast coverage of the Heineken Dutch Grand Prix airs Sunday morning at 9 a.m. ET, live and commercial-free on ESPN.