Max Verstappen to start from P7 in Zandvoort race: 'Nothing more to give'

Published on 22 August 2026 by Florence Cobben

Max Verstappen will be starting from seventh for this year’s Dutch Grand Prix. In front of his home crowd on the Circuit Zandvoort, the Oracle Red Bull Racing-driver couldn’t find the extra edge he needed in qualifying, posting a 1:11.618 that left him 0.455 seconds off Lando Norris, who claimed pole position for McLaren. George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, driving for Mercedes, claimed P2 and P3.

Reflecting on his qualifying, Max shares: “It was just a bit the same as yesterday, in terms of balance. Nothing special. We were gliding a little too much. I think the tyres were just a bit too cold, and if I’m honest, the car had nothing left to give.”

In terms of his chances in tomorrow’s race, Max is realistic: “Everyone learns from the sprint how to approach the race. Most drivers pushed too hard for me in the beginning, so that’s something they’ll all be adjusting for tomorrow. We are just slow on speed and will have to try to drive our own race.”

Adding to the misery, Max doesn’t feel well: “I’m sick, I’ve felt bad all week”. Of his concerns, Max will never rank the fans among them: “It’s always amazing to see, and I’m happy it’s stayed dry, and I think it’ll be dry tomorrow as well.”

n front of a sea of orange and tentative sunshine, the qualifying for the Dutch Grand Prix gets underway. Yuki Tsunoda and Arvid Lindblad, in their Racing Bulls, are the first to put serious times on the clock. Tsunoda is taking over for Liam Lawson, who in turn is stepping in for Isack Hadjar at Red Bull Racing. Max clocks his first flying lap with a 1:13.587 time, temporarily good for third place. Moments later driver improve on his efforts.

In his second flying lap, Max sets a 1:13.290 time, clawing back to P6. While many drivers head out again for a new flying lap, Max decides to stay in the pits. Different drivers manage faster times than Max, but as the dust settles, Max ends up in P12 and safe to advance to Q2. Oscar Piastri is the session’s fastest man. The losers of Q1 are: Carlos Sainz (P17), Fernando Alonso (P18), Lance Stroll (P19), Oliver Bearman (P20) and both Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez’s, driving for Cadillac.

In Q2, Verstappen sets a 1:12.634 time, once again good enough for third place. The hometown hero, however, has already sunk to P9 as he drives out, last of all the drivers, for his second flying lap of Q2. He puts in a sharp and quick lap (1:11.874) and is through to Q3 in third, trailing Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri’s McLarens. Those joining the early-exit club are: Pierre Gasly (P11), Yuki Tsunoda (P12), Nico Hulkenberg (P13), Franco Colapinto (P14), Esteban Ocon (P15) and Alexander Albon (P16).

As Q3 gets underway, the sun has disappeared and chance of rain threatens. Max clocks a 1:11.677 time, bringing him to P6, while Norris is on provisional pole. After a short visit to the pits, the drivers head back out on track. The first drops are beginning to fall, and the cars are slower. Max manages to chip a little bit at his best time, but it leaves him in a disappointing P7 (1:11.618). Lando Norris seizes his second pole position in a row, with the Mercedes drivers in his rearview mirrors. Oscar Piastri crosses the line in fourth, followed by the men in red, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, in fifth and sixth. Behind Max, current teammate Lawson is eighth, while Gabriel Bortoleto and Arvid Lindblad complete the top ten.

The race will commence on Sunday, 15:00 CET time.

Results qualifying Netherlands: