:quality(80)/cdn-kiosk-api.telegraaf.nl/7414d9b2-0d90-11ec-99e9-0217670beecd.jpg?fit=%2C&ssl=1)
sport">Verstappen recorded a time of 1.08.885 on the more than 4.2 kilometer long circuit on the North Holland coast, making it the fastest. The Dutchman received a standing ovation at almost every pass from start to finish, although nothing compares to the bomb that exploded when it became clear that the home favorite was certain of pole.
sport">Mercedes rival Lewis Hamilton, who is three points ahead of Verstappen in the World Cup, came to a time of 1.08.923 and will start in second on Sunday. The teammate of the seven-time world champion, Valtteri Bottas, is right behind the ruffs on the grid on Sunday. The Finn came to a time of 1.09.222.
:quality(50)/cdn-kiosk-api.telegraaf.nl/757d71b0-0d90-11ec-99e9-0217670beecd.jpg)
–
Max Verstappen celebrates his pole position, standing on his Red Bull car.
Ⓒ HH/ANP
—
Exactly the same time
sport">Verstappen improved in his last fast lap with 0.038. If he hadn’t, he would have stopped at 1.08.923, the exact same time as Hamilton. Because the Limburger set his time earlier, he could still have started from pole.
:quality(50)/cdn-kiosk-api.telegraaf.nl/4b54539a-0d8b-11ec-939b-02c309bc01c1.jpg)
–
Qualifying was soon over for Sergio Perez.
Ⓒ HH/ANP
—
Sergio perez
sport">A setback for Verstappen was the dramatic qualifying of teammate Sergio Pérez. At the end of the first session, the Mexican couldn’t set a fast time anymore, so he got stuck in sixteenth time. The second Red Bull driver was about half a second slower than his Dutch teammate.
sport">With Pérez in the backfield, Verstappen does not seem to have to count on any form of ‘back cover’ on Sunday. A big disadvantage, as overtaking is very difficult at Zandvoort and the race can sometimes turn into a tactical battle.
“We could have been at the front with two cars”
sport">“This is really disappointing, because our car is doing well here and we could have been up front with two Red Bulls,” said Perez. “So this is very frustrating. Now it will be very difficult tomorrow, because overtaking is hardly possible here.”
sport">In addition to Perez, four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel of Aston Martin also failed to survive Q1. Robert Kubica, the replacement for the positive tested Kimi Räikkönen at Alfa Romeo, also fell by the wayside. Just like the Haas drivers Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin.
:quality(50)/cdn-kiosk-api.telegraaf.nl/4b8e5a04-0d8b-11ec-939b-02c309bc01c1.jpg)
–
Lando Norris was the biggest victim of the two Williams crashes.
Ⓒ HH/ANP
—
Crashes
sport">A crash by George Russell in Q2 resulted in the fifth code red of this weekend. When the lights went green again, there were just under four minutes left on the clock. All the remaining drivers immediately went out to fight for a spot in Q3, but a push from Nicolas Latifi saw the drivers again see the red flag and the session was cut short. It cost both Williams drivers their heads and Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) and Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) also found their Waterloo.
sport">Lando Norris was the biggest victim. For the McLaren driver, the number three in the World Cup standings, it was the first time this season that he failed to make it to the decisive session in qualifying.
:quality(50)/cdn-kiosk-api.telegraaf.nl/4bda4b26-0d8b-11ec-939b-02c309bc01c1.jpg)
–
Every time Max Verstappen drove by, the Dutch fans went completely crazy.
Ⓒ HH/ANP
—
Race
sport">The race starts on Sunday at 3 p.m. As on Friday and Saturday, approximately 70,000 spectators are expected. The last time a Grand Prix was held in Zandvoort was in 1985. Niki Lauda, who died in 2019, won at the time.
sport">View here the full qualifying results.
–
