F1 qualifying: Max Verstappen on pole for Dutch GP as Sergio Perez spin prevents Hamilton and Russell
Follow all the reaction to qualifying at the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort
The Formula 1 season continues after its return in Belgium last week with this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, with Max Verstappen holding a healthy 93-point lead in the World Championship with eight races to go.
The Red Bull star stormed to victory at Spa-Francorchamps at the weekend, winning by a margin of 18 seconds to team-mate Sergio Perez despite starting in P14 due to an engine penalty; Carlos Sainz took the other podium spot as he held off George Russell late on, while Charles Leclerc finished sixth. Lewis Hamilton retired for the first time this season following a first-lap collision with the Alpine of Fernando Alonso.
This weekend sees F1 roll into Zandvoort, which returned to the calendar last year when Verstappen comfortably won his home Grand Prix. The Mercedes duo of Russell and Hamilton earned Mercedes a one-two in first practice with Sainz third and Verstappen stopping after just 10 minutes due to a transmission issue. Second practice saw Leclerc lead a Ferrari one-two ahead of Sainz, with Hamilton third and Verstappen down in eighth with the news of Oscar Piastri signing for McLaren the main talking point from Friday.
Third practice saw Charles Leclerc go fastest - qualifying started at 2pm (BST).
Follow all the action here with The Independent:
F1 qualifying - Dutch Grand Prix: 8:00 left in Q1
Max Verstappen top of the tree early on with 1:11:377, followed by the Mercedes’ of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.
Lando Norris, meanwhile, being investigated for an unsafe release in the pit lane - narrowly avoiding contact with an oncoming AlphaTauri!
Bottom-five currently (16-20): Gasly, Latifi, Alonso, Ocon Tsunoda (last three drivers have not yet set a time...)
F1 qualifying - Dutch Grand Prix: Q1 is underway!
18 minutes for all 20 cars to set the fastest lap possible in this first qualifying session - a reminder that the bottom-five (16-20) will not make it through to Q2.
Beauitful conditions on the Dutch coast in front of the Orange Army at Zandvoort this afternoon, with three teams seemingly in contention for top spot judging by the three practice sessions we’ve had!
F1 qualifying - Dutch Grand Prix: 5 minutes to go!
We’re just five minutes away from qualifying starting at Zandvoort this week - who will be on pole at the Dutch Grand Prix tomorrow?
Max Verstappen was on pole and drove to a comfortable victory at his home race last year, while every driver who qualified 1-5 in 2021 finished in that position in the race, making qualifying today crucial!
Either way, the Orange Army will be out in full force in north Holland!
F1 qualifying - Dutch Grand Prix: Odds for qualifying!
Max Verstappen - 4/7
Charles Leclerc - 9/4
Sergio Perez - 7/1
Carlos Sainz - 7/1
Lewis Hamilton - 17/1
George Russell - 17/1
Fernando Alonso - 225/1
Lando Norris - 225/1
Odds provided by SBK
F1 qualifying - Dutch Grand Prix: Lando Norris says Max Verstappen is ‘unstoppable’ and could break Lewis Hamilton’s F1 records
Lando Norris has warned Lewis Hamilton that an “unstoppable” Max Verstappen is coming for the British driver’s records. Verstappen heads into his home race at Sunday’s Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort with a commanding 93-point title lead as he closes in on his second championship triumph in as many years.
The Dutch driver’s victory last time out in Belgium took him to 29 career victories, just three short of Fernando Alonso, placing him eighth on the all-time list. Hamilton holds the record of most wins (103) and, alongside Michael Schumacher, has been crowned champion of the world on seven occasions.
But Norris believes Verstappen, in his dominant Red Bull machine, could reach 70 wins within two seasons, leaving just Hamilton and Schumacher (91) ahead of a driver who has not yet celebrated his 25th birthday.
“If Max has two seasons like this, he can get another 30 to 40 wins in the next year-and-a-half to two years, and then he is up to 70 already, so he could quite possibly (beat Hamilton’s records),” said Norris.
Norris says Verstappen is ‘unstoppable’ and could break Hamilton’s F1 records
Verstappen heads into his home race at Sunday’s Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort with a commanding 93-point title lead
F1 qualifying - Dutch Grand Prix: Fernando Alonso meets Lewis Hamilton to apologise for Belgian GP bust-up
Fernando Alonso apologised for calling Lewis Hamilton an “idiot” and withdrew his comment that the British driver can only race from the front. Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix, Alonso, 41, said he would now remain silent on the radio to avoid further controversy.
Alonso’s outburst over the airwaves was provoked by a collision on the opening lap of the Belgian Grand Prix last Sunday. Following Alonso’s comments, Hamilton said he would not speak to the double world champion, and added: “It is nice to know how he feels about me.”
But in a move to diffuse the row here in Zandvoort, Alpine’s Alonso said: “When we are in the TV (interview) pen I will approach Lewis and say sorry. Nothing I said is true and there are facts that show the opposite. I have absolutely no problems with Lewis. I have huge respect for him.
“He is a champion, a legend of our time, and then when you say something – and I am sorry to repeat this – against a British driver, there is a huge media involvement after that.”
‘I have huge respect for him’: Fernando Alonso attempts to defuse Lewis Hamilton spat
The two former teammates collided on the opening lap of the Belgian Grand Prix last Sunday
F1 qualifying - Dutch Grand Prix: Esteban Ocon says Mick Schumacher would be his pick to replace Fernando Alonso at Alpine next year
Esteban Ocon revealed that he wants Mick Schumacher as his team-mate at Alpine next year but acknowledged the decision is not in his hands. Fernando Alonso shocked the paddock last month by announcing he would move to Aston Martin at the end of 2022, leaving Alpine with a race seat to fill alongside Ocon.
The team then announced test driver and 2021 F2 champion Oscar Piastri as Ocon’s team-mate before the Australian himself denied he had signed a contract to race for Alpine next year, with the matter since being heard at the F1’s Contract Recognition Board, with a verdict due on Thursday.
Yet Ocon did not hold back when asked who his preferred team-mate would be, referring to Haas driver Schumacher who has impressed in his second season in Formula 1 this year.
“My choice would be Mick if he doesn’t have anything lined up on his side next year,” Ocon said, sat alongside Schumacher, in the FIA press conference ahead of this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix.
Ocon says Mick Schumacher would be his pick to replace Alonso at Alpine next year
Ocon will have a new team-mate next year at Alpine with Fernando Alonso moving to Aston Martin
F1 qualifying - Dutch Grand Prix: Michael Schumacher - Former Ferrari boss reveals latest on F1 legend’s condition after regular visits
Michael Schumacher is in “the best of hands” as he continus to recover from his horrific skiing accident, says ex-Ferrari boss Jean Todt - who revealed he has seen the German three times a week on some occasions.
The seven-time Formula 1 world champion has not been seen publicly since suffering a near-fatal brain injury while skiing in December 2013 in Meribel, France. His wife Corinna has insisted on protecting Schumacher’s privacy in the eight-and-a-half years since, with his medical condition shrouded in secrecy as he continues to recover at home in Switzerland.
Todt, who has a close relationship with the Schumacher family, was asked this week about the Ferrari legend and thanked his fans for their continued support, adding that the 53-year-old is “surrounded by people who love him.”
“I’m happy that the fans, not only in Germany, think of him so much,” Todt told German outlet Bild. “People ask so much about Michael. The fans should know that he is in the best of hands. In the best situation he can be and surrounded by people who love him.”
Jean Todt reveals Michael Schumacher latest after visiting him ‘three times a week’
Jean Todt is one of the only people who regularly sees Schumacher whose condition has been shrouded in secrecy since his skiing accident in 2013
F1 qualifying - Dutch Grand Prix: Soap opera off-track overshadows start to Dutch GP weekend as Oscar Piastri saga concludes
While the weekend action began out on track in Zandvoort, Formula One’s most enthralling summer soap opera reached its conclusion with the news that Oscar Piastri has signed for McLaren.
The 2021 Formula Two champion has for the past month been in the middle of a squabbling match between McLaren and Alpine, with the latter’s public announcement that test driver Piastri would race for them next year immediately contradicted by the Australian himself on social media. Finally though, we have our result. Piastri will race for McLaren, signing a “multi-year contract” as Lando Norris’s teammate.
“I’m extremely excited to be making my F1 debut with such a prestigious team as McLaren and I’m very grateful for the opportunity that’s been offered to me,” Piastri said in a press release, publicised this time with his consent.
While McLaren will be relieved their contract with Piastri – signed after the British Grand Prix on 4 July – was seen as valid by the F1’s Contract Recognition Board, for Alpine’s management it is very much back to the drawing board.
Soap opera off-track overshadows start to Dutch GP weekend as Piastri saga concludes
News of Oscar Piastri signing for McLaren was the hot topic of conversation on Friday despite Max Verstappen’s struggles at his home circuit
F1 qualifying - Dutch Grand Prix: Lando Norris says Max Verstappen is ‘unstoppable’ and could break Lewis Hamilton’s F1 records
Lando Norris has warned Lewis Hamilton that an “unstoppable” Max Verstappen is coming for the British driver’s records. Verstappen heads into his home race at Sunday’s Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort with a commanding 93-point title lead as he closes in on his second championship triumph in as many years.
The Dutch driver’s victory last time out in Belgium took him to 29 career victories, just three short of Fernando Alonso, placing him eighth on the all-time list. Hamilton holds the record of most wins (103) and, alongside Michael Schumacher, has been crowned champion of the world on seven occasions.
But Norris believes Verstappen, in his dominant Red Bull machine, could reach 70 wins within two seasons, leaving just Hamilton and Schumacher (91) ahead of a driver who has not yet celebrated his 25th birthday.
“If Max has two seasons like this, he can get another 30 to 40 wins in the next year-and-a-half to two years, and then he is up to 70 already, so he could quite possibly (beat Hamilton’s records),” said Norris.
Norris says Verstappen is ‘unstoppable’ and could break Hamilton’s F1 records
Verstappen heads into his home race at Sunday’s Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort with a commanding 93-point title lead
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