16:58 – Norris crosses the line and moves into P2, just one and a half tenths behind Piastri. Gasly and Bortoleto are also currently in the top 10. Colapinto would be eliminated instead, three tenths slower than Lawson.
16:57 – After the first attempt in SQ2, Hulkenberg, Albon, Bortoleto, Gasly, Lindblad, and Tsunoda would currently be eliminated. However, the last four of these names have not yet completed even one lap and are now entering the track.
16:56 – Mercedes are not shining, but it’s only SQ2: Antonelli is fifth at the line, almost half a second behind Piastri; Russell does slightly better and is third, two tenths off P1.
16:55 – The big names arrive: Piastri jumps to the top in 1:12.026, half a second faster than teammate Norris. Leclerc is second by one and a half tenths, then Hamilton in P3 and Verstappen in P5, behind Norris.
16:52 – First fast laps of SQ2: Ocon leads with 1:13.893; behind him Hulkenberg and Albon.
16:51 – Verstappen ‘cleared’: no further action against the Dutchman for the alleged impeding of Hamilton.
16:50 – Green flag, SQ2 begins. 10 minutes of time and again mandatory use of medium tires.
16:49 – Here is a frame of the controversial Verstappen-Hamilton incident, which is causing discussion among the stewards.
HAM impeded not HAM impeding https://t.co/A1L34p69ZA pic.twitter.com/Cj9yNyyKog
— sim (@thrtysvnth) August 21, 2026
16:47 – On the radio during his last lap Alonso reported “big vibrations of the car on the straight,” which he said were also present before his off-track in turn 1. In short, Aston Martin does not seem to have made the step forward expected for the Dutch weekend thanks to the new power unit enhanced by the ADUO.
16:46 – Watch out for possible decisions from the stewards: a possible impeding by Verstappen against Lewis Hamilton is under investigation.
16:45 – This is the ranking at the end of SQ1
16:43 – Checkered flag! Shocking step back for Aston Martin: both Stroll and Alonso eliminated. Out along with them and beyond Bearman also Sainz and the two Cadillacs of Bottas and Perez.
16:42 – Disappointment for Bearman, he is only 17th and is eliminated.
16:41 – Alonso struggling, only 21st. Ocon instead pulls out of elimination – for now – and is 14th.
16:40 – Alonso error in turn 1, the Asturian goes wide into the gravel and rejoins. Currently eliminated are him along with Perez, Bottas, Bearman, Stroll, and Ocon, from P22 to P17.
16:39 – Well done Antonelli who moves into P7 out of trouble on his second attempt. Meanwhile Ferrari responds to McLaren: P1 for Leclerc 1:13.013.
16:38 – McLaren very fast at the moment: Piastri climbs to P2 behind Norris, leader in 1:13.071.
16:36 – First timed lap finished for all the big names (except Antonelli): Norris leads, then the two Ferraris, Russell, Verstappen, Lindblad, and Lawson.
Read more Ferrari convinces even without the new floor: at Zandvoort it is a four-way battle
16:35 – Immediately a scare for Antonelli, who goes wide and into the gravel in the last corner, but manages to rejoin without damage and can return to the pits.
Antonelli into the gravel! 😮
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 21, 2026
He returns to the pits for checks, and he’ll have around five minutes to post a time in SQ1#F1Sprint #DutchGP pic.twitter.com/IsWmZy7UqP
16:33 – Double warm-up lap for the Mercedes cars.
16:31 – First out are the Mercedes, Antonelli and Russell immediately on track. Behind them Perez’s Cadillac.
16:30 – Green flag, we start! 12 minutes for Q1, mandatory use of medium tires.
16:27 – The man of the weekend, especially at Zandvoort, is Max Verstappen. And his crowd has already monopolized the stands.
Orange is the colour in these parts 🧡
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 21, 2026
And they’ll all be cheering on the Dutch Lion 🦁#F1Sprint #DutchGP pic.twitter.com/NAyIgart79
16:25 – A statistical note, this year in four Sprint Qualifying sessions there have been three different pole sitters: Russell (twice), Norris, and Hamilton. Will it be Antonelli’s turn this time?
16:20 – 10 minutes to the start of the action: 32°C track temperature, 20°C air temperature.
16:18 – From the pit lane our correspondent at Zandvoort Carlo Platella reports that the new updated floor has been installed on the two Ferraris of Hamilton and Leclerc, which was not used during FP1 due to variable weather conditions.
16:15 – To best prepare for these Sprint Qualifying sessions, here is the analysis from our Federico Albano post FP1.
16:10 – Eyes on the sky from Q1 onwards, as the weather at Zandvoort is notoriously very changeable. Currently the sky is cloudy and the air temperature is 19-20°C.
16:00 – Things get serious at Zandvoort with the Sprint Qualifying. Here are the full results of this morning’s FP1.
Good afternoon dear readers of FormulaPassion.it and welcome back to the live text coverage of the Sprint Qualifying for the Dutch Grand Prix.
At the Zandvoort circuit, Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes was the fastest in the only free practice session. The World Championship leader was ahead of Norris and the other Mercedes of George Russell. Further back, in fourth and fifth place, the two Ferraris.
Read more Alonso postpones on his future: “I haven’t thought about it yet”
