ZANDVOORT, NETHERLANDS – Saturday’s Qualifying session for the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix served up the drama many expected, but the headline remained clear: McLaren have stamped their authority once again. With Oscar Piastri edging out team-mate Lando Norris by a razor-thin margin, the reigning champions locked out the front row in spectacular style.
McLaren’s Dream Start to the Weekend
For much of practice, it was Norris who had the upper hand, but when it counted in Q3, Piastri delivered the perfect lap – a 1:08.662 – to snatch pole position. Norris slotted in just 0.012s behind, giving McLaren their ideal grid line-up for Sunday.
“It’s been close all weekend, so to take pole by such a small margin feels fantastic,” Piastri said. Norris, meanwhile, admitted frustration at missing out, but added that he’s “ready for a long fight tomorrow.” Team boss Andrea Stella hailed both drivers’ composure in windy conditions, warning that Sunday’s threat of rain could reshape the battle.
Verstappen Holds Home Ground
After a tough Friday, Max Verstappen wasn’t expecting miracles. Yet the Dutchman wrung every ounce out of his Red Bull to secure third on the grid. “It felt much more normal today,” he admitted, crediting late balance changes for the turnaround. Yuki Tsunoda couldn’t match that form, eliminated in P12 despite feeling his laps were “clean.”
Red Bull chief Laurent Mekies was frank: “P3 was the maximum. Behind the McLarens, four or five cars are all within a tenth. Tomorrow will be a fight.”
Hadjar Headlines for Racing Bulls
One of the shock performances came from French rookie Isack Hadjar, who stunned the paddock with a career-best P4. “Honestly, this was unexpected,” he admitted, grinning as he soaked up the atmosphere. Team-mate Liam Lawson also made Q3 but was disappointed with P8, having gone slower when it mattered.
Head of performance Guillaume Dezoteux praised both youngsters: “Third straight double-Q3 for us. We’re in a strong position to score tomorrow.”
Mercedes Falter When It Counts
George Russell looked capable of challenging for the second row but slipped to fifth after struggling with oversteer on his final push. “We didn’t get it right when it mattered,” he admitted. Rookie Kimi Antonelli narrowly missed Q3 in P11, a small error in the chicane proving costly.
Toto Wolff pointed to “a car still difficult in the wind” but hinted Mercedes’ long-run pace might give them a chance to recover positions on Sunday.
Ferrari Show Progress, But Still Chasing
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton slotted into sixth and seventh, respectively. Leclerc admitted he “never fully hooked up a lap,” while Hamilton took positives from finally feeling more competitive after a tough run of Qualifying sessions. Boss Fred Vasseur noted Ferrari had “improved massively since Friday” but conceded they still lacked the balance to challenge McLaren.
Midfield Shuffles: Williams, Aston and Sauber in the Mix
Carlos Sainz led Williams’ charge with ninth, though Alex Albon’s tyre preparation issues left him frustrated in P15. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso reached Q3 for tenth, but Lance Stroll’s weekend unraveled after a crash in FP3 left him starting 20th.
Kick Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto just missed Q3 with 13th, while Nico Hulkenberg remained mired in 17th. Alpine showed flashes of progress, Pierre Gasly taking 14th and rookie Franco Colapinto 16th after traffic ruined his final effort.
Haas Struggle at the Back
Both Haas cars bowed out in Q1, with Esteban Ocon in 18th and Oliver Bearman in 19th. Team principal Ayao Komatsu admitted frustration, saying the VF-25 “has potential but we’re not extracting it consistently.”
The Bigger Picture
Pirelli’s Mario Isola summed it up: “On a circuit where overtaking is tough, Qualifying matters more than ever. McLaren have the edge, but behind them the pack is separated by barely a second. Add in Zandvoort’s unpredictable weather, and Sunday could be chaos.”
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