Oscar Piastri claimed pole position for the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix at Circuit Zandvoort, narrowly beating teammate Lando Norris by just 0.012 seconds in a nail-biting Q3 finish.
McLaren’s dominance was evident throughout the weekend, but the spotlight also shone on the impressive performances of rookie Racing Bulls drivers Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar, both of whom showed speed, composure, and racecraft in the competitive midfield.
Practice Recap:
From the opening laps of Friday practice, McLaren set the benchmark. Norris topped all three sessions, demonstrating remarkable pace and consistency despite red flags, rain, and multiple incidents that disrupted FP2.
Piastri kept pace, completing McLaren one-twos in each session.
Max Verstappen struggled to find rhythm at his home circuit, sliding into the gravel on his practice start at the end of FP1 and failing to crack the top three in any session.
Fernando Alonso and George Russell showed glimpses of speed, while the midfield remained tightly packed.
For Racing Bulls, the weekend began positively. Lawson returned to the track where he made his F1 debut in 2023, outpacing teammate Hadjar in both Friday sessions and running as high as the top five on hard tyres in FP2.
Lawson showed early confidence, while Hadjar demonstrated smooth, consistent lap times, signalling that both rookies were ready to battle with the midfield.
Lawson climbed into the top 11 in FP3, running closely with Hadjar despite limited laps. Norris topped FP3 once again with a lap time seven-tenths faster than last year’s top qualifying lap.
Q1:
Q1 began under gusty winds that threatened to catch drivers out in specific sectors. Yuki Tsunoda initially set the pace with a 1:10.661, before Oliver Bearman improved to 1:10.262. Lewis Hamilton then went fastest with 1:10.224.
Disaster struck Lance Stroll, who ran one of his rear tyres onto the grass, losing control and hitting the barriers with both ends of the car. He sustained damage to his wings and floor and did not set a competitive lap, ultimately being eliminated.
Verstappen responded, going fastest with a 1:09.754. McLaren quickly followed: Norris posted 1:09.469, with Piastri just 0.15 seconds behind.
The rookie Racing Bulls duo impressed. Hadjar initially slotted into 7th, with Lawson in 8th, only a tenth separating them. After all drivers completed their first runs, Lawson was 15th, prompting the team to inspect his car’s floor after he ran over ragged curbs at Turn 3.
On his final lap, Lawson vaulted to 5th fastest, just over four-tenths off Piastri, while Hadjar remained steady in 7th. The tight midfield was evident, with only 0.187 seconds separating 5th to 13th.
Q1 Eliminated: Colapinto (16th), Hulkenberg (17th), Ocon (18th), Bearman (19th), Stroll (20th).
Q2:
Q2 saw Ferrari lead early, with Leclerc and Hamilton setting initial lap times. Russell topped the timesheets with 1:09.636 before Verstappen responded with 1:09.122, half a second ahead.
Lawson posted a strong 5th fastest on his first lap but was soon displaced as others improved.
Hadjar’s first flying lap put him 3rd fastest before settling 7th by the session’s end, nearly three-tenths quicker than Lawson. Both rookies comfortably progressed to Q3.
Norris then demonstrated McLaren’s supremacy, going purple in the first sector and setting a 1:08.874 lap, breaking Verstappen’s 2021 lap record. Piastri followed closely in second, only 0.09 seconds off his teammate.
Eliminated Q2: Antonelli (11th), Tsunoda (12th), Bortoleto (13th), Gasly (14th), Albon (15th)
Q3:
The final session was a tense battle. Piastri and Norris exchanged top times, with Verstappen chasing in third. Russell, Sainz, and Hamilton battled for position behind them.
The Racing Bulls rookies faced contrasting fortunes. Lawson suffered oversteer on his first flying lap, leaving him 10th, 1.669 seconds off Piastri’s pace. Hadjar, however, impressed, posting strong laps to end up in fourth.
On their final laps, Piastri narrowly held off Norris to secure pole with 1:08.622, setting a new track lap record.
Verstappen remained third, while Hadjar’s exceptional pace saw him start fourth, nearly three-tenths ahead of Lawson, who recovered to 7th. This highlighted not only Hadjar’s raw speed but also Lawson’s resilience under pressure.
Q3 Top 10:
- Oscar Piastri – 1:08.622
- Lando Norris – +0.012s
- Max Verstappen – +0.263s
- Isack Hadjar – +0.546s
- George Russell – +0.593s
- Charles Leclerc – +0.678s
- Liam Lawson – +0.838s
- Lewis Hamilton – +0.728s
- Carlos Sainz – +0.843s
- Fernando Alonso – +0.968s
Lawson vs. Hadjar:
Lawson and Hadjar showcased why Racing Bulls are a midfield force to watch. From FP1 to Q3, the two were consistently close, trading positions in practice and qualifying.
Hadjar’s 4th place Q3 result underlined his pace and consistency, while Lawson’s recovery from a shaky opening lap to 7th demonstrated his adaptability and mental toughness.
Their performances also highlighted their ability to challenge experienced F1 drivers like Hamilton, Leclerc, and Alonso.
Looking Ahead To The Grand Prix:
With McLaren on pole, Verstappen chasing a home win, and the midfield tightly packed, the Dutch Grand Prix promises to be tight and as competitive as ever.
Piastri starts from pole for the fifth time this season, while Norris, Verstappen, and Hadjar could all play crucial roles in the early race order. Lawson’s strong recovery positions him for a potential points finish, ensuring Racing Bulls have both rookies ready to make an impact.
Header Image: Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images via Red Bull Content Pool
excellent analysis..