After it rained during the last practice session, rain was also predicted for qualifying. Just before the start of qualifying, rain clouds appeared on the horizon and the drivers took to the track as quickly as possible.
On the intermediates we saw several drivers make mistakes and then it wasn’t raining heavily. Max Verstappen also went through the gravel trap but was released with a fright.
When Carlos Sainz pulled out of the pit lane halfway through Q1, it almost came to a collision with Oscar Piastri in the McLaren. The Australian only just managed to avoid Sainz.
Alex Albon was surprisingly the fastest in the Williams during Q1, followed by Max Verstappen by a handful of thousandths. Charles Leclerc narrowly escaped an early exit in his Ferrari.
Also in Q2 we saw most of the drivers quickly get out on track. However, there were threatening rain clouds around the circuit, but during Q2 it remained remarkably dry and the circuit gradually dried up. We even got to see a nice and dry driving line on certain parts of the circuit.
At the end of the second part of qualifying we had a very close battle for a place in Q3. Max Verstappen was the fastest, but the big surprise was the elimination of Lewis Hamilton, who did not get further than a thirteenth time.
In Q3 some drivers took to the track on dry weather tyres, even though the track was not completely dry yet, there was a mostly dry ideal driving line.
A few minutes into Q3 we got a red flag after Logan Sargeant crashed. On his dry-weather tyres, Sargeant went slightly off the dry ideal driving line and he immediately paid for it in cash. The American managed to push through to Q3 for the first time and his crash put a considerable damper on the ‘celebration’.
We obviously got a red flag and that allowed the track to dry out even further. It caused lap times to take a serious plunge right away when Q3 resumed. Lando Norris drove to a provisional fastest time, followed by teammate Oscar Piastri at about two tenths. Max Verstappen had to settle for third fastest on his first attempt.
Charles Leclerc caused a red flag with just over four minutes left on the clock. The Monegasque went wide and crashed into the tire wall. A strange crash by Leclerc but it added some extra tension in the battle for pole.
During the ultimate fast runs, Max Verstappen drove to pole position, to the delight of the home crowd, who created a ‘Dutch party’. Lando Norris drove his McLaren to second fastest and a place on the front row. George Russell completed the top three.
It is remarkable that the top six of the qualification consists of six different teams. It therefore promises to be an exciting race, although Max Verstappen seems to be the big favorite for victory as always.
More F1 news:– VIDEO: Halo prevents drama during crash F2 race in the Netherlands– Fernando Alonso: “I won’t be disappointed if I’m not on the podium again this year”– VIDEO: This strange crash caused F1 pilot to break his wrist and miss the ‘Dutch GP’– Some F1 teams are worth billions: “Is that an exaggeration? I do not think so!”– VIDEO: This is the remarkable trophy for the winner of the ‘Dutch GP’
(F1journaal.be)