Max Verstappen’s late qualifying push not enough, Racing Bulls surprise at Zandvoort

Even though he absolutely shredded the middle sector at Zandvoort during qualifying on Saturday, Max Verstappen’s late push was not enough to take the McLaren’s out. 

The hometown boy didn’t disappoint and managed to throw the kitchen sink at the last lap of qualifying. Even with an RB21 that’s not been upgraded extensively over the summer break - Verstappen managed to juice every hundredth of a second out of it. 

It was the dying seconds of qualifying 3 and Oscar Piastri had claimed a provisional pole position but Verstappen was still out on a lap and had performed a better middle sector time than both McLarens. The middle sector at Zandvoort presents the medium speed corners before the DRS straight.

But the Dutch-Belgian driver could find the same rhythm in sector 3 and had to settle for P3 start during his home race. Piastri will start the Dutch Grand Prix in pole, Norris in second and Vertsappen behind him. 

“This weekend was tricky for us. Qualifying was the best I felt all weekend. I am very happy with the energy of the crowd and to see so much orange in the grand stand is special. 

“McLaren’s been fast all weekend but it's important to focus on our own race going into tomorrow (Sunday),”  Verstappen said. 

Red Bull won’t just be chuffed with Verstappen’s performance, as both of their Racing Bulls drivers, Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar, made the third qualifying round and was only one of three teams with both drivers in Q3. 

Hadjar delivered his qualifying performance of the season so far, claiming a P4 start for tomorrow’s main race, ahead of George Russell, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. 

Lawson will start on Sunday from 8th position with Carlos Sainz in the Williams and Fernando Alonso in the Aston Martin closing out the top ten qualifiers. 

Red Bull’s second driver Yuki Tsunoda slimmed his chances of getting in the points this Sunday, even though he’s in dire need of it. Tsunoda was knocked out during Q2 and will start Sunday’s race in 12th position. 

The insanely quick times posted by Hadjar during qualifying, which beat both Ferrari and Mercedes, does not paint Tsunoda in the best light, who has been having a disastrous run at it since joining the senior team. 

Tsunoda was brought in as a replacement for Lawson earlier this season, but after his stint of performances and Hadjar’s driving in the Racing Bulls on the opposite end, Tsunoda may likely be staring down the barrel of a demotion. 

If the Japanese driver can somehow get into the top ten on Sunday and if the grid starting stays the same, then it could be the first time this season that all four Red Bull cars finish in the top 10. 

It will also mean the first points scored for Tsunoda since May, at the Emilia Romagna GP.