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Max Verstappen
Photo: JOHN THYS / AFP
Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen has also secured pole position for the third edition of the Dutch Grand Prix since the race's return to the Formula 1 calendar. Verstappen set the fastest lap in qualifying at Zandvoort on Saturday, relegating Lando Norris in the McLaren and Mercedes driver George Russell to second and third place.
The 25-year-old Red Bull driver is now reaching for a ten-year-old Formula 1 record. In a chaotic time chase, there were two interruptions due to red flags. In Sunday's race (15.00 p.m. / TV: Sky), Verstappen is now reaching for his ninth victory in a row. So far, only Sebastian Vettel has managed such a series, in the 2013 season he also sat in the Red Bull.
Verstappen is on pole position for the eighth time in the 13th race of the season. Williams driver Alex Albon surprised in fourth, Verstappen's teammate Sergio Pérez showed another disappointing performance in seventh.
Ricciardo retired after practice accident
The rain-affected qualifying was extremely disappointing for record world champion Lewis Hamilton, among others, with the Mercedes driver only finishing in 13th place. Nico Hulkenberg, who renewed his contract for 2024 on Thursday, made it into Q2 in the weak Haas, but only starts from 15th place.
Daniel Ricciardo had suffered a metacarpal fracture in practice, which gave Liam Lawson a very short-term Formula 1 debut at AlphaTauri. Unsurprisingly, the New Zealander ended up in last place.
In the world championship standings, Verstappen leads clearly at the start of the summer break with 314 points, Pérez is already 125 points behind in second. There are still ten races to go this year.
ARA/SID