03/09/2022
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's qualifying session the air temperature is 26.4 degrees C, while the track temperature is 39.4 degrees. It is bright and sunny.
Having been on the back foot yesterday, Red Bull was altogether much improved this morning, and though only third on the timesheets, behind Leclerc and Russell, there is every prospect of the world champion battling for pole over the next hour.
Indeed, with Mercedes and Ferrari having maintained their Friday form, this really could be a six-way fight, with Hamilton, Sainz and Pere also looking strong.
Though strong yesterday, McLaren disappointing earlier, while old-timers Alonso and Vettel looked good as did the Haas pair.
Unlike Spa, this isn't a good track for overtaking so a good grid position is vital.
The lights go green and shortly after Schumacher heads out, followed by Magnussen, Albon, Latifi and the Alfa pair.
Magnussen crosses the line at 12.680, with teammate Schumacher responding with a 12.825. Albon posts a 12.909.
A 12.641 sees Zhou go top, while teammate Bottas can only manage 12.895.
Tsunoda has his time deleted for exceeding the limits at Turn 3.
The crowd roars as Verstappen heads out, followed by Perez and the Ferraris.
No sooner has Vettel gone quickest (12.563), than Stroll stops the clock at 12.505.
Verstappen goes quickest in the first sector... the crowd roars. He maintains the pace in S2, again the crowd roars. At the line it's 11.317... the crowd roars.
Perez goes second with a 12.320, but is leapfrogged by Leclerc and then Sainz (11.767).
Ricciardo goes fifth as teammate Norris is under investigation for a suspected unsafe release into the path of Tsunoda.
Magnussen goes fourth (12.319) and Albon eighth, but both are demoted when Russell goes second and Hamilton third.
"Big movement in the last corner," reports Verstappen. "Yeh, we saw that," he is told.
A 12.225 sees Bottas go seventh, while Zhou goes sixth.
Alonso goes fourth with an 11.667 as the times begin to tumble.
Vettel can only mange 16th (12.391), while Perez improves from 15th to 4th with an 11.641.
Leclerc goes second (11.443) as Russell reports that his rears didn't feel great in Turn 1.
With 4:00 a the drop zone comprises Vettel, Ricciardo, Albon, Schumacher and Latifi, with Magnussen, Bottas and Norris hovering.
Albon improves to seventh with an 11.695, ahead of Sainz.
While Verstappen and Leclerc stay put, everyone else is on track.
As Stroll goes quickest in the first sector, Schumacher goes eighth overall and Magnussen 13th.
Zhou goes tenth and Bottas 12th, as Vettel goes quickest in S1.
Stroll goes eleventh overall, while Ricciardo fails to improve on 17th.
Tsunoda goes second (11.427) and Norris fourth, but both are demoted when Hamilton posts an 11.331 to claim second.
"We need to be more on it, mate," declares Perez.
Quickest is Verstappen, ahead of Hamilton, Tsunoda, Leclerc, Norris, Russell, Stroll, Perez, Alonso and Albon.
We lose Bottas, Magnussen, Ricciardo, Vettel and Latifi.
The lights go green and Albon is first out. However, halfway around the track the session is red-flagged due to a flare which has been thrown on to the track.
"There's a ton of pigeons around," reports Albon as he return to his garage. He's lucky it's not seagulls.
The session resumes and once again Albon leads the way, again sporting used softs. He is followed by the Bulls.
As the trio begin their first flyers, more drivers head out to join them.
Albon posts a 12.078 but moments later Verstappen stops the clock with a 10.927 and Perez an 11.314.
Verstappen was on used softs also.
Russell goes third with an 11.418 but is demoted when Hamilton posts an 11.075 to go second.
Norris goes fifth, ahead of Albon, Zhou and Schumacher.
Perez asks about his teammate's lap time, told it was in the 1:10s the Mexican clearly wishes he hadn't asked.
Stroll goes fourth (11.416), ahead of Russell and Norris.
Alonso is the last driver to post a time, the Spaniard crossing the line at 11.613 to split the Ferraris.
Despite a clear track, Albon improves his time but remains tenth.
As Albon heads back to the pits, all are on track bar Verstappen.
Russell is on new rubber while his teammate is on old.
Norris goes quickest in S1, as the Ferrari pair posts PBs.
Leclerc goes second (10.988), Norris fourth (11.116) and Schumacher ninth.
A 10.814 sees Sainz go top, while Russell goes second with a 10.824.
Tsunoda goes tenth and Hamilton fifth, while Gasly and Alonso fail to improve.
"I had traffic, Red Bull, Turn 8," claims Alonso, "I don't know what he was doing."
Quickest is Sainz, ahead of Russell, Verstappen, Leclerc, Hamilton, Norris, Perez, Stroll, Schumacher and Tsunoda.
We lose Gasly, Ocon, Alonso, Zhou and Albon.
Check out our Saturday gallery from Zandvoort here.
Q3 gets underway, and Verstappen leads the way, much to the crowd's delight.
The world champion crosses the line at 10.515, moments later Perez stops the clock at 11.077.
Schumacher goes third with a 12.727 but is demoted when Norris posts a 12.150.
Tsunoda goes fourth with a 12.556, as Hamilton and Leclerc trade fastest sectors.
Russell goes third (11.147) but is demoted when Hamilton posts a 10.648 and Leclerc a 10.456. Sainz posts a 10.747 to go fourth.
The crowd falls silent.
"A technical problem means Lance will not be leaving the garage for Q3," reports Aston Martin.
The final assault gets underway, and Leclerc leads the way, followed by Norris, Schumacher, Verstappen, Sainz and Perez. Last out is Hamilton.
Leclerc goes quickest in S1, while Verstappen can only manage a PB. A poor S2 for Leclerc but a strong S3 sees him improve to 10.363.
However, Verstappen responds with a 10.342, having gone quickest in S2.
As the crowd roars, Perez sins and clouts the barrier in the final corner.
The yellows are waved meaning that nobody behind the Mexican can improve.
Verstappen has pole, ahead of Leclerc, Sainz, Hamilton, Perez, Russell, Norris, Schumacher, Tsunoda and Stroll.
Gasly will start eleventh, ahead of Ocon, Alonso, Zhou, Albon, Bottas, Magnussen, Ricciardo, Vettel and Latifi.
"It was a clean lap with no mistakes, just missing that last half a tenth," says Sainz. "It was on the limit out there, it wasn't an easy qualifying but in the end we did a decent job.
"It is very tough out there," he adds, "the track is especially demanding on the tyres. Tomorrow should be an interesting day, there will be a lot going on and many options with strategies.
"Max did a great lap in the end," admits Leclerc, "our car was getting better and better.
"In the beginning I was scared because Max was much quicker than us on used tyres," he adds. "We are much stronger here compared to last weekend, and our race pace looks quite strong. We need to do a great start and then we'll see."
"Unbelievable" grins Verstappen, "especially after yesterday. We worked really well overnight to turn it around.
"A qualifying lap around here is insane," he adds. "Today the car was enjoyable to drive."
After yesterday, this was a significant turnaround for Verstappen, but there is no denying that he will be under intense pressure tomorrow from the Ferraris and even the Mercedes... indeed, thanks to Perez' off we don't know what the Mercedes pair had up their sleeves though it is doubtful they would have challenged the front row.
Should be a good one.
Check out our Saturday gallery from Zandvoort here.