Orange festival in Zandvoort… Norris and McLaren dampen the atmosphere

• A pole and a victory in 2021, same thing in 2022 and 2023… Max Verstappen had never before been beaten in the flying trick exercise, in front of his dear and tender orange army. It is now done. And it was still the oranges that were at the party! Lando Norris indeed signed his fourth career pole position this Saturday, ahead of the leader of the Dutch world championship and his teammate Oscar piastri.
• McLaren long believed he could secure the front row with Oscar Piastri, but the Australian had much more difficulty on his last attempt and ended up being passed by the local hero. The crowd was as if groggy by the time set by Lando Norris, but the fight which is announced on Sunday between Lando, Max and Oscar promises to be grandiose.
• Behind, the others were not really invited to the same table. With a 4th place on the grid, George Russell is ultimately not doing so badly, even if he is half a second off the pole time. Behind, Checo Pérez secured an honorable top 5, although the time was much less so (8/10th from pole and half a second behind his teammate). Charles Leclerc limited the damage to Ferrari with a 6th place on the grid… but 9/10th of the reference time!
• The Monegasque could very well have started behind Fernando Alonso et Alexander albon, respectively 7th and 8th on the grid, if the coin had fallen on the wrong side, given the small gap between the three men. Lance stroll is 9th, while Pierre Gasly did a very good job to reach Q3 and secure a start in the top 10.
• Q2, a few minutes earlier, had trapped some big fish! It must be said that between the first and the last qualifier, there was only 4 small tenths of a difference. Carlos Sainz was in fact eliminated in Q2, missing the boat by 69/1000th. Same punishment for Lewis Hamilton, winner of the last Grand Prix to date and eliminated before Q3 for the third time since the start of the year, this time by a big tenth. The two men will leave in front Yuki tsunoda (13th) and in front of the two drivers Haas, Hulkenberg having anticipated Magnussen.
• Accident in free practice 3, Logan sargeant was never able to take the wheel in this qualification, despite the hopes harbored by Williams one hour before the start of the session. The American will start last, just behind Valtteri Bottas (18e) and Guanyu-Zhou (19e). Esteban Ocon He was incredulous when he learned of his 17th grid position, in precarious grip conditions. Daniel Ricciardo was also knocked out in Q1 by a big tenth.

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