GLAD MAX THUNDERS HOME
Max Verstappen storms to pole in front of home fans at Dutch GP with Lewis Hamilton second behind title rival
LEWIS HAMILTON is poised for an explosive Dutch Grand Prix after title rival Max Verstappen drew first blood by taking pole position.
The Red Bull man, roared on by 70,000 orange-clad fans, was ecstatic as he climbed from the cockpit of his car and was treated to a heroes' reception.
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He'd taken pole by just 0.038seconds from Hamilton, who was again booed as his image was played over the giant screens during a post-qualifying TV interview.
It means we are set for a thrilling tussle to turn one on this tight, twisty and undulating track, where Verstappen is desperate to win.
Hamilton, who won his home race at Silverstone after ploughing Versteppen into the barriers in a big shunt, knows the Dutchman is out for revenge at Zandvoort.
He said: ";Max has been incredibly fast in the first sector and we have been working hard on improving the car and slowly chipping away at it and building confidence.
"I was really happy with it and great we could get that close to him but think there is still more time to come.
RUNNING ORDER FOR DUTCH GP
Here's how they will line up at Zandvoort for Sunday's Dutch Grand Prix
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
- Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)
- Pierre Gasly (Alpha Tauri)
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
- Antonio Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo)
- Esteban Ocon (Alpine)
- Fernando Alonso (Alpine)
- Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren)
- George Russell (Williams)
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
- Lando Norris (McLaren)
- Nicholas Latifi (Williams)
- Yuki Tsunoda (Alpha Tauri)
- Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
- Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin)
- Robert Kubica (Alfa Romeo)
- Mick Schumacher (Haas)
- Nikita Mazepin (Haas)
"I know it will be tough tomorrow and not a track you can overtake on. It will be all about strategy and how you utilise the tyres. It is going to be fun."
Hamilton will get the full cooperation of his Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who will start in third and help the strategists calculate their pitstops.
However, Verstappen, who took his sixth pole in the last seven races, knows it is all about the start.
He said: "You always try to do the best start you can into turn one and see what happens afterwards.
"Everyone tries their best to gain a place or defend their position but it is important to be at the front.
"It was really incredible driving at home with all these fans going crazy when I crossed the line. Getting pole position is very satisfying."
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It was an exciting qualifying, not just because of the eclectic atmosphere.
There were two red flags as both George Russell and Nicholas Latifi crashed their Williams cars - with potentially more stoppages and starts in Sunday's race.
Russell, who had qualified second at the Belgian GP last out, was again impressive until he pushed too hard and spun off.
He said: "I came up to the penultimate corner, the tight right-left and my tyres were going. I pushed too hard, attacked that last corner too much and lost the rear.
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"I am really sorry for the team because that's not how we want to end our qualifying."
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Meanwhile, Kimi Raikkonen has been forced to isolate after testing positive for Covid 19.
The Finn, who earlier in the week announced he was leaving Alfa Romeo at the end of the season, was replaced by Robert Kubica.
Lewis Hamilton arrives at Dutch GP wearing Holland’s famous orange colours
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