Max starts Dutch GP from P2: 'We lacked a bit of pace'

Published on 24 August 2024 by Florence Cobben

Max Verstappen will start the Dutch Grand Prix from the front row, in second place. On the exciting CM.com Circuit Zandvoort, it was Lando Norris in his McLaren that drove to pole during the qualifying for the race on Sunday. Teammate Oscar Piastri clinched third place,  and the Mercedes of George Russell and Max's Oracle Red Bull Racing teammate, Sergio Perez, completed the top five. 

“We lacked a bit of pace”, Max explained after qualifying: “I tried the best I could, but I'm still happy to be on the front row.”

Max continues: "It's very tricky out there with the wind. You have these gusts of wind coming in, so every single lap just feels different. So you can't really go off the reference as well. But yeah, I'm happy with second! I think after yesterday as well, this is a good result. The car is at the moment not the easiest to drive. [...] Hopefully the car is okay tomorrow in the race. [...] We'll give (getting a win) a good go. But when you're more than three-tenths behind in qualifying, I think you have to be realistic."

As the lights go green at the end of the pitlane, Q1 is underway. Only Logan Sargeant, who was in a bad crash during FP3, remains back in the pitlane. Nico Hülkenberg and Zhou Guanya are the first to appear on track. Max is the last to start a flying lap, and with just 10 minutes to go in Q1, the reigning champion drove his RB20 to P3, behind Hamilton and Norris. Max starts out of sync in his second run and breaks it off. Over the teamradio, he lets his team know that his car is gliding. After the first run in Q1, the top three are Perez, George Russell and Carlos Sainz. It is Daniel Ricciardo, Yuki Tsunoda, Valtteri Bottas, Zhou and Sargeant that are on the wrong side of the line. 

Sainz opens Q2 ahead of his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc. Both drivers try their first stints on used tyres. Rain is threatening, so the drivers have to contend with possibly changing track conditions. After his first run, Max is just behind the McLarens, of which Norris is the faster of the two. It is both Ferraris, Alexander Albon, Nico Hülkenberg and Tsunoda who are currently being threatened with a stage left exit.

The top four, including Max, try for a second run as the end of Q2 looms. It is Hamilton and Sainz that fall just short of Q3. In the company of Hülkenberg, Magnussen and Tsunoda, the five drivers are free to hit the showers. Alexander Albon and Pierre Gasly pull through to Q3 with admirable performances. 

At the start of Q3, Max is immediately underway, sandwiched between the McLarens. Piastri opens strong and is a fraction faster than Max. Sometime later Norris one-ups both his competitors, demoting Max to P3. Russell is fourth, and Max let's his team know to check his floor; he went wide in turn 13. 

With just 3 minutes to go, the drivers begin their last attempts at seizing pole position. Max clinches a purple sector two and sets a new fastest time of 1:10.029. However, it is Norris who manages to improve on Max's time; the charts report a lap time of 1:09.673. He takes pole, with Piastri having to settle for P3.

Contest Dutch GP: win a by Max Verstappen signed Red Bull Racing cap!

Results qualifying Netherlands: