The qualifying session for the 2025 Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix at Circuit Zandvoort concluded with McLaren securing a front-row lockout. Oscar Piastri recorded the fastest lap in Q3, earning pole position ahead of teammate Lando Norris. This marks McLaren’s first front-row lockout since 1982.
Session Overview
- Date: Saturday, August 30, 2025
- Location: Circuit Zandvoort, Netherlands
- Track Conditions: Dry, with moderate wind; ambient temperature around 19°C
- Tyre Allocation: Pirelli C2 (Hard), C3 (Medium), C4 (Soft) compounds
Qualifying Results
| Position | Driver | Team | Time/Gap | Tyres used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:08.662 | 6 |
| 2 | Lando Norris | McLaren | +0.012 | 6 |
| 3 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing | +0.263 | 6 |
| 4 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls | +0.546 | 6 |
| 5 | George Russell | Mercedes | +0.593 | 6 |
| 6 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | — | 8 |
| 7 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | — | 8 |
| 8 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | — | 6 |
| 9 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | +0.843 | 6 |
| 10 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | +0.968 | 6 |
| 11 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | — | 4 |
| 12 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing | — | 5 |
| 13 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber | — | 4 |
| 14 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | — | 5 |
| 15 | Alexander Albon | Williams | — | 4 |
| 16 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine | — | 3 |
| 17 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber | — | 3 |
| 18 | Esteban Ocon | Haas F1 Team | — | 3 |
| 19 | Oliver Bearman | Haas F1 Team | — | 3 |
| 20 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | — | 1 |
Key Developments
- Q1 Eliminated (P16–P20): Franco Colapinto (Alpine), Nico Hülkenberg (Kick Sauber), Esteban Ocon (Haas F1 Team), Oliver Bearman (Haas F1 Team), Lance Stroll (Aston Martin).
- Q2 Eliminated (P11–P15): Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull Racing), Gabriel Bortoleto (Kick Sauber), Pierre Gasly (Alpine), Alexander Albon (Williams).
- Q3: Piastri led Norris by 0.012s, with Verstappen third at +0.263s. Hadjar qualified fourth, ahead of Russell in fifth. Leclerc, Hamilton, and Lawson advanced to Q3 but did not set a time, classified sixth to eighth. Sainz and Alonso completed the top ten.
- Track Evolution: Lap times improved steadily across sessions due to increasing grip levels.
- Incidents: No major on-track incidents were reported, though Alonso and Russell came close during Q2 without contact.
Notable Performances
- McLaren: Consistent pace across sessions delivered a front-row lockout, with Piastri converting in Q3 and Norris close behind.
- Racing Bulls: Hadjar P4 and Lawson P8 underline strong single-lap speed; both reached Q3.
- Ferrari: Leclerc (P6) and Hamilton (P7) advanced to Q3 but registered no lap time.
- Mercedes: Russell starts P5; rookie Antonelli narrowly missed Q3 in P11.
- Red Bull Racing: Verstappen P3 within three tenths; Tsunoda out in Q2 (P12).
- Williams: Sainz P9; Albon P15.
Technical Notes
- The Zandvoort circuit features high-speed banked corners and limited overtaking zones, placing emphasis on qualifying performance.
- McLaren’s aerodynamic setup appeared optimized for the circuit’s downforce demands, contributing to their pace advantage.
- Verstappen, despite local support and historical success at Zandvoort, was unable to match McLaren’s pace in Q3.
Kursiv also reports on how the practice session went for teams yesterday, on August 29.
