George Russell has claimed his third Sprint pole position of the season at the Dutch Grand Prix, putting the Mercedes driver in prime position for Saturday's 24-lap shorter-format race. The British driver topped SQ3 under sunny conditions at Zandvoort after the circuit dried out completely following a damp FP1 session. Lando Norris will join Russell on the front row in second place, with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc locking out row two in third.

More F1 news: Antonelli Tops FP1 at Zandvoort as Ferrari Bring Fresh Upgrades to Dutch GP

The qualifying drama hit hard in SQ2, where Liam Lawson's temporary Red Bull drive came unstuck. The substitute driver couldn't make the cut for the final session after being knocked out by Racing Bulls' Arvid Lindblad. It's a tough blow for Lawson, who was getting a rare chance to impress at the energy drink team this weekend. McLaren had their moment in the SQ2 spotlight, with Oscar Piastri and Norris setting the benchmark before the final shootout.

More F1 news: Antonelli Leads the Way at Zandvoort as Lawson Impresses in Surprise Red Bull Drive

Championship leader Kimi Antonelli had an early scare in SQ1 when he ran through the gravel at Turn 13, nearly tangling with the wall on his opening lap. The Italian managed to scrape through that session but found himself fifth on the final grid for the Sprint. Max Verstappen qualified sixth, while Lewis Hamilton lines up seventh for Ferrari. Pierre Gasly's place in SQ3 was a nice moment for Alpine, marking their first appearance in the final session since Monaco.

More F1 news: Antonelli Quickest in Wet to Dry Zandvoort Friday as Mercedes Leads the Way

With rain still threatening the Zandvoort forecast for Saturday, fans could be treated to a proper wet-weather display from the new 2026 cars if conditions develop. The Sprint will be the first real chance to see how the latest machinery handles the Dutch sand dunes in the wet. Russell's pole position gives Mercedes a strong hand going into the weekend, though the weather variable could shake things up completely before the race gets underway.

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