Max Verstappen pips Charles Leclerc by just 0.021s for pole, Carlos Sainz third for Ferrari; Sergio Perez spin hampers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell’s final efforts Watch Sunday’s race live at 2pm on Sky Sports F1, with build-up from 12.30pm
By Matt Morlidge at Zandvoort
Last Updated: 03/09/22 3:35pm
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Max Verstappen pips Charles Leclerc to take pole position at his home grand prix, while Sergio Perez crashes out during qualifying of the Dutch GP.
Championship leader Max Verstappen will start on pole position for his home Dutch Grand Prix after snatching top spot off Charles Leclerc with a stonking final lap in a competitive qualifying at Zandvoort.
Verstappen, who put a scruffy start to the weekend behind him, pipped Leclerc by just 0.021s with his last-gasp effort, with Carlos Sainz also within a tenth of a second off the lead Red Bull for Ferrari.
Lewis Hamilton was in the fight throughout an enthralling shootout and may have had a shot at pole position but was denied a chance after a dramatic spin at the penultimate corner for Sergio Perez brought out yellow flags.
Hamilton would eventually finish three-tenths off in fourth, while George Russell was also hampered by Perez’s error and finished behind the other Red Bull in sixth.
“Unbelievable. It’s special,” said Verstappen. “Especially after yesterday as well. We had a difficult day but we worked really well over night with the whole team to turn it around.”
A sell-out sea of orange were cheering on their world champion Verstappen on Saturday, and at one stage in qualifying it went a step too far as a flare was thrown on the track to cause a red flag.
But Verstappen was right up against it to claim pole in the dying embers of the session, with Leclerc having claimed provisional pole with his first lap of Q3 before following it up with another improvement.
Verstappen was down on his title rival at the start of his critical lap but put in a blistering middle sector to help him to his fourth pole of 2022, prompting wild scenes in the grandstands.
Verstappen, who holds a 93-point title lead and is well on his way to defending his crown, will be aiming for his 10th win of the season on Sunday.
Dutch GP Qualifying: Top 101) Max Verstappen, Red Bull2) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari3) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari4) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes5) Sergio Perez, Red Bull6) George Russell, Mercedes7) Lando Norris, McLaren8) Mick Schumacher, Haas9) Yuki Tsunoda, AlphaTauri10) Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
More to follow.