In Zandvoort, it’s Supermax! Like last season, Max Verstappen dominated the qualifying session on Saturday 3 September. The leader of the world championship was one breath ahead of his main rival this season, Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), and Monegasque teammate Carlos Sainz. The three leading cars are held in less than a tenth, the promise of a fierce race Sunday in the Netherlands, on the lands of the reigning world champion. The French Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri) and Esteban Ocon (Alpine) are 11th and 12th respectively.
The task was however far from easy for Verstappen, weighed down by a gearbox failure on Friday, and who could not perform as much running-in as he wanted. But the Dutchman managed to reverse the situation with nothing. The Ferraris, at the controls during free practice the day before, were present, much more than a week earlier in Belgium.
The moment Max secured pole! #DutchGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/L1pLlDl3Tr
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 3, 2022
But carried by an unleashed public and even sometimes beyond the limits – the session was interrupted for a time because of a smoke bomb launched on the track – the Red Bull driver was able to find the slight surplus of aggressiveness that he needed to get ahead of Leclerc by 21 thousandths of a second, the narrowest gap for a pole position this season.
It was necessary to have the heart and the nerves well attached until the end of the session with six pilots able to be able to dispute the best time. In addition to the leading trio, the two Mercedes and the other Red Bull of Sergio Pérez seemed able to upset the hierarchy with equivalent tires. But Pérez (5th) spoiled the last attempt by Lewis Hamilton (4th) and George Russell (6th) by leaving the track in the last moments. The start on Sunday, at the end of one of the shortest straights on the calendar, could spark some sparks.
QUALIFYING CLASSIFICATION @Max33Verstappen takes his fourth pole of the season #DutchGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/5mIkUPdcTq
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 3, 2022
Behind the peloton for the win, the race to be the “best of the others” smiled on McLaren, with Lando Norris, 7th. Group shot tinged with misfortune for the French clan: Pierre Gasly (Alpha Tauri) will start 11th ahead of the two Alpines of Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso. A small consolation for the tricolor team, at the heart of many eyes after the outcome of the Oscar Piastri case on Friday, Norris will play the race almost alone to bring points to his team with Daniel Ricciardo’s 17th place. Another contender for the vacant seat next season at Alpine, Mick Schumacher (Haas) set a nice 8th time.