Russell Qualifies on Pole for Sprint Race as F1 Returns at the Dutch GP
Russell posted a 1:11.567 lap to edge Norris by 0.041 seconds and claim his first pole of the F1 2026 season.
- On Friday, Mercedes driver George Russell secured pole position for Saturday's Dutch Grand Prix sprint race, pipping reigning world champion Lando Norris of McLaren by 0.041 seconds.
- This achievement marks Russell's third sprint pole of the 2026 season, reflecting significant progress for the Briton after enduring a difficult first half of the campaign.
- Ferrari's Charles Leclerc qualified third, just 0.055 seconds off the pace, while McLaren's Oscar Piastri took fourth ahead of championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli in fifth.
- Home favorite Max Verstappen claimed sixth for Red Bull ahead of seventh-placed Lewis Hamilton, while Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso struggled after rear wing technical issues.
- Heading into Saturday's sprint at Zandvoort, Russell will lead the field ahead of Norris and Leclerc as the 22 drivers prepare for a competitive outing.
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Both McLaren drivers finished in the top 4, with Antonelli and Verstappen looking to improve on Saturday.
Russell roars to Dutch GP sprint pole, Antonelli fifth
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc will be third on the grid ahead of Oscar Piastri in the second McLaren. Current world championship leader Kimi Antonelli was a surprisingly low fifth in qualifying after setting the fastest time in practice in his Mercedes. Back for the first race after the tradional month-long summer break, Russell set a time of one minute and 11.567 seconds, 0.041 seconds faster than Leclerc, ahead of what looks like being a knife-ed…
The Dutch GP is already a reality and George Russell has been the first to hit. The British has taken the pole to the sprint with a time of 1’11′′567, which will allow him to scratch some points to Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who will depart from the fifth position. Lando Norris has been second ... Continue reading "Russell takes the pole to Zandvoort’s sprint: Alonso and Sainz out on the SQ1 and McLaren warns"
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