30/08/2025
NEWS STORY
Ahead of Q1 the air temperature is 20 degrees C, while the track temperature is 34 degrees. It is bright and sunny.
Norris has set the pace in all three practice sessions, and while his teammate has neve been far behind, the Briton appears to have a certain steely, self-assurance about him this weekend.
The Aston Martins looked good yesterday but lost some pace this morning, though Alonso's flyer was wrecked by Russell.
The Briton finished third quickest, while the Williams pair improved dramatically overnight, as did Ferrari to a lesser extent and the RBs.
Tsunoda is first out, followed by Ocon, Gasly, Colapinto and Bearman.
"The wind is a bit gustier," reports Ocon.
Tsunoda posts a benchmark 10.661, but Bearman responds with a 10.262.
Hamilton goes top with a 10.224 and his teammate third (10.621), as Stroll spins off and clouts the barrier in Turn 13 after touching the grass on the entry.
He clouts the barrier but is able to drive back to the pits, his car needing a few new parts including a front wing.
Moments later Verstappen has a scare at the same corner, possibly down to the wind.
Nonetheless, the Dutchman goes quickest with a 9.754.
"We'll see what we can do, stay in there for now," Stroll is told as he asks if his session is over.
No sooner has Russell gone second than teammate Antonelli demotes him with a 10.004.
A 9.469 from Norris and 9.627 from Piastri as Alonso goes fourth with a 9.950.
Hadjar goes seventh and Lawson eighth, as Bortoleto goes 15th with as 10.425.
Gasly goes sixth and his teammate sixteenth.
In eleventh, Hamilton aborts his next flyer and pits.
With around 5 minutes remaining, Bortoleto, Tsunoda, Colapinto, Ocon and Stroll comprise the drop zone, with Albon, Leclerc, Sainz, Bearman and Hamilton hovering.
Ther track temperature is now the highest it's been all weekend, which won't please Mercedes.
With all the field behind the McLarens covered by around 0.7s it's all to play for, anything can happen.
Piastri goes top with a 9.338, 0.131s up on his teammate.
Russell goes third, Verstappen fourth and Antonelli fifth.
Hadjar goes seventh and Sainz eighth.
Albon goes fifth, Gasly seventh, Hamilton eighth and Leclerc ninth.
Bortoleto goes thirteenth and Lawson fifth.
Tsunoda goes twelfth thereby demoting Colapinto.
As Alonso aborts, Hulkenberg fails to improve on seventeenth.
OK, Piastri is quickest, ahead of Norris, Russell, Verstappen, Lawson, Albon, Antonelli, Gasly, Hamilton and Leclerc.
We lose Colapinto, Hulkenberg, Ocon, Bearman and Stroll.
The Ferrari pair are first out for Q2, Leclerc leading the way. Both on used rubber they have the track to themselves.
"There was a fox at Turn 10," reports Leclerc, who adds that he thinks it ran away.
The Monegasque posts a 10.034 while his teammate responds with a 10.140.
Russell heads out, followed by Verstappen, Antonelli, Tsunoda and Lawson.
Verstappen is quickest in S1, and again in S2. At the line he posts a 9.122 just moments after Russell posted a 9.636.
Antonelli splits the pair with a 9.601.
Albon goes fifth, Lawson sixth and Sainz seventh, but all are demoted when Norris crosses the line at 8.874.
Alonso goes eighth with a 9.657, as Piastri goes second, 0.090s down on his McLaren teammate.
No sooner has Leclerc gone fourth with a 9.304 than he is demoted by his teammate who posts a 9.261.
"That's dangerous from the McLaren (Norris)," reports Verstappen, "what the ****!"
Ahead of the final assault, Alonso, Lawson, Sainz, Bortoleto and Gasly comprise the drop zone.
Russell can only manage sixth, while his teammate remains seventh.
Tsunoda can only manage ninth, while Gasly goes tenth.
Sainz goes seventh, only to be demoted by Hadjar.
Albon fails to make the cut, as does Bortoleto, while Lawson goes seventh.
Moments later the Kiwi is eclipsed by Alonso, who stops the clock at 9.366.
"Oh my God, no tyres at all.... why do we do it to ourselves," sighs a despondent Albon.
Norris is quickest, ahead of Piastri, Verstappen, Hamilton, Leclerc, Russell, Alonso, Lawson, Hadjar and Sainz.
We lose Antonelli (again), Tsunoda, Bortoleto, Gasly and Albon.
Check out our Saturday gallery from Zandvoort here.
Piastri heads out to get Q3 underway, he is followed by Norris, Russell, Sainz and Alonso.
Both McLaren drivers posts 23.3s in the opening sector, while Norris had the advantage in S2. At the line Piastri posts 8.662 while Norris can only mange 8.674, 0.012s down.
Russell goes third with a 9.255, 0.593s behind.
Alonso goes fourth and countryman Sainz fifth.
A 9.723 sees Hadjar go ahead of the two Spaniards.
Hamilton goes fourth and Leclerc fifth, both on used rubber.
Verstappen goes third with a 9.048, 0.386s down on provisional pole man Piastri.
Norris heads out to get the final assault underway, he is followed by Piastri, Sainz, Leclerc and Hamilton.
A weak opening sector for Norris while Piastri goes purple. Norris improves in S2, while Piastri posts a PB. At the line Norris fails to improve while his teammate eases off knowing that the job is done.
Sainz goes fifth but is demoted by Leclerc.
Hamilton goes sixth and Lawson seventh, while Alonso remains ninth.
Hadjar goes fourth, while Verstappen - who goes quickest in S2 - closes to within 0.263s of Piastri but remains third.
Piastri takes pole, ahead of Norris, Verstappen, Hadjar, Russell, Leclerc, Hamilton, Lawson, Sainz and Alonso.
Antonelli will start eleventh, ahead of Tsunoda, Bortoleto, Gasly, Albon, Colapinto, Hulkenberg, Ocon, Bearman and Stroll.
Having dominated the practice sessions, Norris loses out when it matters most, while Ferrari spring a surprise and Aston Martin fails.
Amidst the attention on the McLarens, let's not forget Hadjar, for that was a superb lap.
"This weekend so far was quite tricky for us," admits Verstappen. "Qualifying was the best I've felt all weekend," he adds. "I'm very happy with that, and the energy of the crowd has been amazing.
"The McLarens have been very fast all weekend, so it is very important to focus on our own race."
"It's been close all weekend," adds Norris, "it could always go one way or other.
"Yes, a little bit disappointed not to be on pole," he admits. "It's tough, I had a good lap, but just a small headwind down the straight and I lost a hundredth.
"We'll have some fun tomorrow," he smiles. "We both had terrible starts last year, so we'll see."
"That was the definition of peaking at the right time," says Piastri. "I'm super happy to come out with this result, but obviously the points are tomorrow.
"It was looking like a little bit of a tricky weekend so far," he admits, "so I'm, happy with that.
"You just keep chipping away. There's still some things to try and work on, but overall I'm very happy.
"We are both trying to beat each other every weekend."
Tomorrow's run to the first corner is one of the shortest on the calendar, hopefully we're in for a thriller.
Check out our Saturday gallery from Zandvoort here.