F1 qualifying outcomes: Lando Norris storms to the entrance in qualifying on the Dutch Grand Prix

This week McLaren introduced a number of upgrades to the Dutch Grand Prix, their first large set of enhancements to the MCL38 for the reason that Miami Grand Prix.

Lando Norris captured his maiden Formulation 1 Grand Prix victory that week, and if Saturday is any indication, he’s on a path to safe his second F1 Grand Prix on Sunday.

Norris turned in a dominant efficiency on Saturday throughout qualifying, taking pole place forward of his pal and the person he’s chasing for the F1 Drivers’ Championship, Max Verstappen.

“An incredible day, good to be again and begin with a pole,” mentioned Norris to Jolyon Palmer trackside after qualifying. “The automotive was feeling wonderful, we’ve acquired some upgrades on the automotive for the primary time shortly, and every little thing’s working rather well and an enormous because of the workforce.”

After all, Norris has been right here earlier than. That is the third time he has taken pole place for a Grand Prix this season, after doing so on the Spanish Grand Prix and the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Nevertheless, at each races Norris failed to carry on to the lead for the lead for the primary lap. That is one thing Palmer hinted at trackside.

“I’m excited for tomorrow, I’m certain it’s going to be robust,” mentioned Norris in response to a query in regards to the run into Flip 1, which is shorter than ordinary at Zandvoort. “Max has been fast all weekend, I do know we acquired him immediately however he’s nonetheless second and he’s going to be placing up a great struggle, particularly at his dwelling race, however I’m wanting ahead to it.”

That opening lap could also be a pivotal second on this F1 season. If Norris can maintain onto the lead on Lap 1, it is going to be one other marker on this spectacular marketing campaign from him and McLaren, who will see Oscar Piastri begin behind Norris in P3.

And if Norris can go on to transform this pole place right into a victory?

That could possibly be the most important win of all for him, and McLaren.

Listed here are the complete qualifying outcomes from an exciting day at Zandvoort, in addition to some extra winners and losers:

Winner: Max Verstappen

Within the topsy-turvy world that’s F1 in 2024, a second-place outcome for Max Verstappen in qualifying can really be categorized as a win for him.

Whereas the McLarens appeared sturdy all week forward of qualifying, splitting the duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri may need been the absolute best outcome. That can give Verstappen an opportunity at grabbing the lead from Norris on the opening lap, and an opportunity at denying McLaren the front-row lockout they’re looking for at Zandvoort.

Verstappen appeared to trace at such in his feedback trackside after qualifying.

“I attempted the most effective I might, I’m nonetheless very blissful to be on the entrance row,” mentioned Verstappen to Jolyon Palmer trackside after Q3. “I’m proud of second. I believe after yesterday, it is a good outcome.”

Requested about his possibilities of profitable tomorrow, Verstappen did his finest to handle expectations.

“We’ll give it a great go,” mentioned Verstappen, “however I believe we’ve to be sensible.”

Verstappen has two objectives over the rest of the season: Maintain on to P1 within the Drivers’ Championship and do every little thing he can to disclaim McLaren a real shot on the Constructors’ Championship.

Whereas he didn’t seize pole place at Zandvoort, a P2 outcome on Saturday is an efficient begin.

Losers: Sauber

Sauber’s painful streak seems to proceed.

For the time being, Sauber is the one workforce but to attain a single level this F1 season. Any hopes of the workforce breaking that ignominious streak took a severe beating on Saturday, with each Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas failing to advance to Q2. Bottas completed in P18 in Q1, with Zhou behind him in P19.

Solely Logan Sargeant’s failure to take to the monitor prevented Sauber from locking out the again row of the sector.

Haas was the final workforce to complete the yr with out scoring a single level, again within the 2021 season. Time is working out on Sauber as they appear to keep away from the identical destiny.

Winner: Alexander Albon

A yr in the past in Zandvoort Alexander Albon stormed to the entrance of the sector in qualifying, placing his FW45 on the second row with a P4 efficiency.

Whereas he couldn’t fairly match that outcome on Saturday, Albon stormed into Q3 and put his upgraded FW46 into P8, his finest qualifying efficiency of your complete 2024 F1 season.

It was additionally simply the fourth time Albon has superior to Q3 this yr.

As we are going to see in a second issues had been a lot more durable on the opposite aspect of the storage for Williams, however with the workforce languishing down in ninth place within the Constructors’ Championship standings, seven factors behind eight-place Alpine, each constructive outcome counts.

And this was a really constructive outcome for Albon and Williams.

Loser: Logan Sargeant

Picture by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Photographs

Now we head to the opposite aspect of the storage …

Saturday’s third and ultimate follow session at Zandvoort noticed a crimson flag within the closing moments, as Logan Sargeant spun into the barrier at Flip 5. Whereas the Williams driver was capable of stroll away from the shunt, the rear of his Williams FS46 caught hearth, making a harmful second for Sargeant.

The harm to the FW46 was an excessive amount of for the workforce to beat, as Sargeant was unable to take part in qualifying on Saturday.

This comes at a crucial juncture in Sargeant’s motorsport profession. With Carlos Sainz Jr. coming to Williams subsequent season, Sargeant is searching for his subsequent cease in motorsports. Would possibly that be IndyCar with Prema, the group he as soon as drove for in F2? Or would possibly that be some place else?

Both method, this accident put Williams behind the eight ball, as famous by Crew Principal James Vowles. “There’s tons of of hours spent on the replace, it seems prefer it’s working, however there’s few of them on the planet,” he informed Sky Sports activities F1. “Actually, the worst time is whenever you’ve simply launched it with small quantities of bits and put it into the wall on the circuit.”

Winners: Aston Martin

How about just a few phrases about Aston Martin?

This has been a quite quiet season for Aston Martin, as they discover themselves mired in the course of the F1 discipline. They at present sit fifth within the F1 standings, 39 factors forward of sixth-place VCARB, and beneath no severe problem for that place.

Nevertheless, Mercedes is a whopping 193 factors away from them in fourth place, and Aston Martin seems unlikely to make up that floor over the ultimate ten races of the 2024 F1 season.

Nonetheless, Saturday was a powerful outcome for Aston Martin, who noticed each Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll advance into Q3. When the checkered flag flew it was Alonso up in P7, and Stroll in P9. That outcome provides Aston Martin an opportunity to carry dwelling a double factors outcome on Sunday, one thing they’ve accomplished simply 4 instances this season.

Loser: Daniel Ricciardo

Earlier this week Daniel Ricciardo addressed his unsure F1 future. “I’ve each alternative in entrance of me and that’s the sweetness, it’s as much as me,” Ricciardo informed Sky Sports activities F1 on Thursday. “Sure, there’s at all times strain from myself, and that of the Pink Bull system, however I do know if I do a job, I’ll have a seat and someplace to race.”

His Dutch Grand Prix acquired off to a rocky begin.

Ricciardo completed sixteenth in Q1, bringing his qualifying session to an finish earlier than Q2 started. He’ll begin in the back of the sector, on a monitor the place it’s traditionally tough to make up important floor given the tight and twisty structure at Zandvoort.

And with Liam Lawson frequently looming within the Visa Money App RB F1 Crew storage, it is likely to be time to begin questioning if Ricciardo’s time is working out.

Loser: Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton entered the Dutch Grand Prix on a excessive observe, with a run of three straight podiums and a pair of victories. Whereas his win at Spa got here through a disqualification to teammate George Russell, and a promotion as much as P1 after crossing the road second, his win at Silverstone got here wholly on advantage.

Nevertheless, factors is likely to be robust to come back by Sunday at Zandvoort, not to mention a fourth straight podium end. Hamilton, after ending fifth in Q1, solely managed a P12 in Q2, bringing his qualifying to an in depth.

It was simply the third time all season Hamilton was eradicated in Q2.