Redbull’s Max Verstappen took the first steps to make the Dutch Grand Prix ‘memorable‘ as he lapped at 1:08.885 at qualifying to take the pole on Saturday. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, the current championship leader, followed the Belgian-Dutch driver by 0.038 seconds. 

A pole means Verstappen is as close as he can be to dethrone Lewis Hamilton from the top rung and covering up for the couple of botched races he endured last month. 

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“It’s an amazing feeling to get pole position here,” said Verstappen in an orange clad Circuit Zandvoort as home supporters cheered for him throughout his flying lap. 

“The crowd is incredible and today was also very enjoyable. The car was very nice to drive and this track in qualifying, once the fuel comes out, it’s really cool.

“It’s the best starting position, we know passing is difficult, and I don’t expect it to be an easy race around here. A lot of laps and the tyres are struggling through the high-speed. But today was good so of course I hope we can finish it off tomorrow.”

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Verstappen had the fastest time ahead of the two Mercedes cars in the third and final practice session too. 

Qualfying 2 was cut short after Nicholas Latifi crashed in the other Williams – George Russel’s. Ferraris’ Carlos Sainz suffered a heavy crash in final practice for the Dutch Grand Prix. 

Hamilton, who missed pole by a fine margin, said,” I want to say a big thank you to all the orange fans here, the Dutch fans. What an amazing venue, what an amazing track, I do really love coming to this country and I do appreciate the welcome. Great sporting fans here.”

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“Max did an amazing lap and I was so close, I was trying to catch him. With yesterday’s session missed it made it a bit more difficult of a day but I gave it absolutely everything. But he did an absolutely fantastic lap.”

Top 10 results:

1) Max Verstappen, Red Bull

2) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

3) Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes

4) Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri

5) Charles Leclerc, Ferraro

6) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari

7) Antonio Giovinazzi, Alfa Romeo

8) Esteban Ocon, Alpine

9) Fernando Alonso, Alpine

10) Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren