McLARENS THE PREY, VERSTAPPEN THE HUNTER AT A SOLD-OUT CIRCUIT ZANDVOORT

Qualifying for the FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN DUTCH GRAND PRIX took place today in front of packed grandstands under sunny skies at Circuit Zandvoort.

Main Straight during Qualifying Saturday (photographer Jelle Dreesen / Dutch Grand Prix)

Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris locked out the front row for McLaren, with Max Verstappen starting from the second row on Sunday as their main challenger.

Verstappen does not need to ask for support. The reigning world champion knows he can count on more than one hundred thousand orange-clad fans tomorrow.

After qualifying, he said,
“We’ll see. The McLarens are fast here. We need to focus on our own race and hopefully we can keep everyone behind us.”

“I am happy with P3. Compared to yesterday and this morning, I felt much better in the car today. We may not be the strongest here, but we will be pushing to the limit.” the Dutchman added.

Verstappen once again made it clear that beyond his performance, he truly enjoys what is happening around him in Zandvoort.
“With all that orange in the stands, it is such a great feeling to drive here at this amazing circuit.”

Grandstands full of orange fans
Jan Lammers, Sporting Director, spent the day with a big smile on his face.
“Our fans never let us down. Back in 2024 we already passed the milestone of one million satisfied visitors. That kind of trust is not given lightly. Today we saw packed grandstands again, beautiful weather and a unique atmosphere. We are looking forward to a fantastic race tomorrow.”

At Zandvoort, where changing weather conditions can make tire strategy even more important, 105,000 spectators will be in the stands tomorrow. Just like today, Sunday is completely sold out.

Fans will be treated to a spectacle even before the race begins at 15:00. After the F1® Drivers Parade, the Royal Netherlands Air Force will perform a flyby over the circuit as a tribute to the Dutch Grand Prix. Opera and musical singer Henk Poort will deliver an a cappella version of the Dutch national anthem, the Wilhelmus, just before the start.

After the race, the Dutch Grand Prix will close with a spectacular party in the fanzone, featuring performances by Yves Berendse, Snollebollekes and Afrojack.