Formula 1 Qualifying: Verstappen on pole in Zandvoort 2024?

Max Verstappen has won three times in Zandvoort since the return of the premier class to the circuit. But will he keep his 100% score? The first real indication as always: the qualification!

Q1

The party is back in Zandvoort. Hülkenberg is the first on the track after a messy training session for him too. It is nice and dry for the session, which was far from the case in the training sessions. So we are only now seeing what the real balance of power is in that respect. And whether anything has changed in that respect during the summer break.

Stroll puts in a good lap and goes to P1. He is faster than Albon, but also than Leclerc, Perez, Alonso and Sainz, among others. Norris struggles in the combination of turns 7, 8 and 9. A notoriously difficult combo where you never feel like you have the best line. For the n00bs like myself it is nice to see that NOR also struggles with that.

Still, the McLaren is fast of course. Hamilton, Norris and Piastri go to the top 3. Verstappen settles in between them a little later in P3. The differences are again very small. Max (P3) is at that moment 18 thousandths slower than Hamilton (P1). Sargeant does not come into action at all after his crash in P3.

At the end, Sainz, Perez, Russell and Leclerc must be shivering. But then they all set a fast lap. That means Ricciardo, Ocon and the two Saubers are the buck.

Q2

Suddenly the weather in Zandvoort clouds over. Ferrari sees the potential danger and immediately goes out with both cars. However, the Ferraris are not really fast. Verstappen also goes out early on a new set of tires. He is fast, but the McLarens and Mercs may secretly have more speed.

Verstappen saves a set of tires and forgoes a second run. That is a bit less comfortable than hoped when Gasly, Stroll and Albon are faster than the Dutchman. But Max is lucky. Sainz and Hamilton leave it and miss Q3. That is especially crazy for HAM; he was the fastest for most of Q1. Tsunoda and the Hares are also out. That is a bit less of a surprise.

Q3

Piastri crosses the finish line first and therefore goes to P1. Verstappen is a bit slower, Norris a bit faster. Leclerc gives up six tenths. Russell is four tenths slower. Good news and bad news for the Dutchman. McLaren seems to be a bit faster, but he has nothing to fear from Ferrari and probably not from Mercedes either. Stroll, Alonso, Perez and Albon do not do a first lap at all. Stroll and Alonso then do so in ‘the break’. Stroll goes to P7, Alonso is faster than Leclerc and goes to P5.

Max’s second lap is then faster than his first through S1 and S2. He goes to provisional pole. But Norris is 3.5 tenths faster in his second lap. Tough guy Piastri disappoints and gives up a lot. Russell goes to P4 at the expense of Perez who takes P5, ahead of Leclerc, Alonso, Albon, Stroll and Gasly. No big surprises then, but Max will have to work for it again tomorrow. That’s how we like it. Looking forward to it!