The event marks Zandvoort’s final appearance on the Formula 1 schedule for the foreseeable future as teams prepare for Sunday’s decisive race.
Formula 1 returned from its summer break with high drama at the coastal Circuit Zandvoort, set amid the sand dunes by the North Sea, where changing weather conditions upended the final minutes of qualifying. McLaren driver Lando Norris braved a worsening downpour to clock a lap of 1m 11.163s, edging out Mercedes rival George Russell by a tenth of a second under the threat of rain. The result put Norris on pole for Sunday’s main event.
The fifth sprint race of the F1 2026 championship took place on Saturday, August 22, with crucial championship points up for grabs at the Dutch Grand Prix. George Russell started the sprint on pole after a thrilling sprint qualifying session on Friday, a fraction ahead of reigning world champion Lando Norris and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. The men at the head of the title battle—Mercedes star Kimi Antonelli and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton—finished only P5 and P7 respectively in the sprint qualifying session.
Lando Norris denies George Russell pole position in gripping
George Russell went on to win the sprint race at Zandvoort before qualifying on the front row for Sunday night’s race.
Behind Norris, Russell, and Antonelli in qualifying, Oscar Piastri secured P4 after looking like the fastest driver on track for the majority of Qualifying. Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were next on the timesheets, heading Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson, who wasn’t far off the lead Red Bull, while Gabriel Bortoleto and Arvid Lindblad completed the top 10. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly came the closest to making it into Q3, but lost out by less than a tenth and qualified ahead of his former team mate Yuki Tsunoda, who was 0.102s adrift of the lead Racing Bulls car upon his return to the grid. Nico Hulkenberg wound up P13 for Audi, leading the second Alpine of Franco Colapinto, Haas’ Esteban Ocon, and Williams’ Alex Albon.
Mercedes has led the pack all racing season, with 19-year-old Kimi Antonelli’s six Grand Prix victories keeping him strongly in the top drivers’ spot. His teammate George Russell held the second spot for several months, but has since been overtaken by Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton.
Monaco Grand Prix practice, qualifying and race times, UK
Pit Lane Tensions and Qualifying Battles at Zandvoort
The competitive tension spilled over into the pit lane before the Q3 session began, when Max Verstappen and Russell nearly had contact. Jostling for position in the queue ahead of the final qualifying session, Verstappen’s Red Bull darted out from the Red Bull garage to cut Russell off. Verstappen immediately chose violence on the team radio:
We'll probably have George crying on the radio about the pit release,
he told his race engineer on team radio. But it was nothing unsafe.
F1 Sprint Race Today
Engineer Gianpiero Lambiase responded bluntly: No. Nothing Max.
Championship Standings and Circuit Zandvoort’s Farewell
The weekend carries added significance because it is expected to be Zandvoort’s final appearance on the Formula 1 schedule for the foreseeable future, turning the weekend into a farewell celebration for one of the sport’s most atmospheric races. The iconic banking at Hugenholtz and the fast-flowing Scheivlak corner took center stage as teams began the decisive second half of the championship. The Dutch Grand Prix also features a Sprint format, adding extra competitive pressure from the opening day, with drivers having only a single practice session before Sprint Qualifying on Friday.
Sunday’s race marks the final standalone race on the 2026 circuit, with only double and triple headers on the docket going forward. For viewers in the United States, the Grand Prix is scheduled for Sunday at 9 a.m. ET (6 a.m. PT) at the Zandvoort Circuit outside of Amsterdam, with exclusive U.S. broadcasting rights held by Apple TV.
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