#F1 #SprintQualifying: @GeorgeRussell63 pips @LandoNorris to #DutchGP Sprint pole.

Russell Dutch Sprint Pole – Mercedes’ George Russell pipped reigning World Champion Lando Norris to the Dutch GP Sprint pole by a slim 0.041 seconds as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc completed the top three and was a further 0.055 seconds adrift of the Briton in third. Championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli qualified fifth in the other Silver Arrow.

This was Russell’s third-career Sprint pole as the Briton looks to rediscover his winning form and propel himself back into the title fight with the Mercedes driver third in the World Driver’s Championship standings and 59 points behind championship leading team-mate Antonelli.

In SQ3, the initial flyers saw the drivers do an extra prep lap with reigning world champion Norris lead the pack out and the Briton register the benchmark of a 1:11.608 with two purple final sectors as Antonelli ended up second with a 1:11.794.

Russell with two purples in sectors one and three shot to P1 with a 1:11.567 to take the Sprint pole as Leclerc slotted into third and 0.055 off the Briton with his 1:11.622 effort whilst Piastri ended up fourth with a 1:11.666.

Sir Lewis Hamilton with three personal bests ended up sixth and momentarily as home favourite Max Verstappen pipped his 2021 rival to snatch the spot off the Ferrari driver.

Pierre Gasly out his upgraded Alpine A526 entry into eighth as Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto and RB’s Arvid Lindblad rounded out the top ten.

In SQ2, which was topped by Piastri, a late improvement from Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad sent regular team-mate Liam Lawson (who was promoted to the Red Bull seat for the weekend to replace the injured Isack Hadjar) out of SQ2 meaning the Kiwi will start tomorrow’s Dutch GP Sprint in 11^th.

Yuki Tsunoda (who filled Lawson’s spot) ended up 12^th despite a late improvement and ahead of Alpine’s Franco Colapinto who took 13^th and Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg who was 14^th.

Haas’s Esteban Ocon and Williams’ Alexander Albon were the slowest of the SQ2 eliminatees in 15^th and 16^th.

In SQ1, which was topped by Leclerc, Haas’s Oliver Bearman improved on his flyer but was not enough to progress into SQ2 and missed out on a spot by 0.110 seconds as the Briton qualified for tomorrow’s Sprint 17^th.

Williams’ Carlos Sainz followed in 18^th and in-front of Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll who took 19^th.

The two Cadillac MAC01 entries of Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez were 20^th and 21^st respectively whilst Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso brought up the rear with the double World Champion heavily flat-spotting his front-left tyre into the opening corner and an excursion into the gravel trap.

You can see the full Formula 1 Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2026 Sprint Qualifying Results Classification at the link: FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN DUTCH GRAND PRIX 2026 – SPRINT QUALIFYING

2026 Formula 1 Dutch GP Sprint Qualifying Pole Position – George Russell, #63, Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team, F1 W17 – 1:11.567:

“Good to be back after the break at a circuit I really love. Really happy to come back. The lap felt really good, it all came together really nicely. The McLarens looked quick, Ferrari looked quick so glad to pull it off when it mattered.”