Lando Norris is targeting pole position at the Dutch Grand Prix on F1’s return following a four-week summer break, having gone fastest in both sessions on Friday in Zandvoort.
The McLaren driver faces a title tussle and nine-point deficit with teammate Oscar Piastri and faces a tricky test for the papaya team, with qualifying set to deliver drama later today following FP3.
With 10 races left this season, there is more besides the compelling drivers’ championship title race with Lewis Hamilton desperately searching for a spark to ignite his disappointing start to life at Ferrari, having failed to secure a podium in red this term. The seven-time world champion recovered from two spins on Friday to go sixth fastest, while Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso came second in FP2 to show promise this weekend.
And Max Verstappen is enduring a rare down year with Red Bull after speculation over his future, but will be hoping for a strong showing in front of his home fans.
Follow live coverage of the Dutch Grand Prix with The Independent below:
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F1 DUTCH GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING - LATEST UPDATES
- Round 15 of the 2025 season takes place in Zandvoort
- Qualifying is at 2pm (BST)
- Norris quickest in all three practice sessions
- Dutch driver Verstappen eyes glory for Red Bull in front of home fans
What time is qualifying at Zandvoort?
11:35
,
Kieran Jackson
Qualifying for the Dutch Grand Prix is at 2pm (BST).
Constructor standings heading into Dutch GP:
13:00
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Kieran Jackson
1. McLaren - 559 points
2. Ferrari - 260 points
3. Mercedes - 236 points
4. Red Bull - 194 points
5. Williams - 70 points
6. Aston Martin - 52 points
7. Sauber - 51 points
8. Racing Bulls - 45 points
9. Haas - 35 points
10. Alpine - 20 points
Lewis Hamilton says Ferrari continue to lack pace: 'A chunk off'
12:42
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Kieran Jackson
“It’s not been the worst of days,” Hamilton admitted on Friday. “I think we were making progress.
“We were obviously quite far off in FP1, a lot further than normal. First lap felt pretty decent, getting back, but a bit of a challenge from then.
“We made some progress over lunch, but still quite a chunk off, so still some work to do overnight.”
Charles Leclerc says practice was 'worst of the season'
12:30
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Kieran Jackson
“Probably the worst Friday of the season,” Leclerc said. “Which is right after the holidays and it’s a little bit of a wake-up call.
“We have had some difficult Fridays and now it’s up to us to turn the situation around.
“For sure, it has not an easy day. FP1 was extremely difficult. FP2 was slightly better but still very far off where we want to be.
“I don’t expect to fully turn the situation because I think McLaren is in a league of its own with Aston Martin in what was a surprise for us. We will try to improve the car because there is plenty to be done.”
Max Verstappen downbeat after practice:
12:21
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Kieran Jackson
“Still struggling with the same things and again we tried a lot of things with the car but it just doesn’t really seem to change anything in terms of my underlying problem,” he said.
“We’ll look overnight to find a bit more but I’m not going to expect a massive turnaround.
“It’s just tricky, plus the layout of the track also probably doesn’t suit our problems that we have with the car.
“Just understeer, that’s my main problem. And you know, in the middle sector there are a lot of long corners, so it’s not, not, not great.”
Sauber team principal Jonathan Wheatley:
12:12
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Kieran Jackson
“The target is continuous improvement, it’s about that momentum and carrying it over into next year.
On Hulkenberg and Bortoleto: “The upgrades that they’ve been putting on the car means the drivers have more confidence. The culture is good and there’s an energy in the team.
“It’s incredibly strong, Nico’s experience and expertise, and Gabriel has been working from that. His work ethic is unbelievbale.”
On being Audi in 2026: “I’ve been in a high pressure role for over 20 years, we want to compete and over-perform.”
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies:
11:59
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Kieran Jackson
“We are nowhere near to the McLaren but we are there in that group behind trying to get that P3 spot.
“We are mostly focused on 2026 but it is key over the next 10 races we try and understand why this season has gone the way it’s gone.”
FULL FP3 RESULTS:
11:50
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Kieran Jackson
FP3 CLASSIFICATION: Norris out on his own #F1 #DutchGP pic.twitter.com/Y7DDfqsCz0
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 30, 2025
WATCH: Russell-Alonso incident
11:39
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Kieran Jackson
Whoa, that was so close!
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 30, 2025
Alonso and Russell almost come together #F1 #DutchGP pic.twitter.com/krqHfE2yn8
Lando Norris quickest in FP3
11:33
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Kieran Jackson
A clean sweep for Norris in practice at Zandvoort!
The British driver sets a whopping lap time of 1:08:972, in the end two-tenths quicker than his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri.
3-10: Russell, Sainz, Verstappen, Leclerc, Albon, Stroll, Hadjar, Alonso
Lewis Hamilton down in P14...
Russell-Alonso incident to be investigated after the session
11:28
,
Kieran Jackson
One for the stewards to take a look at after FP3.
Final laps being clocked now...
Russell and Alonso almost crash
11:22
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Kieran Jackson
Bizarre incident!
On the main straight, Alonso looks to overtake Russell - who swerves to the right and almost collides with the Aston Martin!
Alonso is forced to go through the pits. Looks like Russell’s fault, to me.
Alonso: “They don’t look in the mirrors, mate.”
Kimi Antonelli on team radio:
11:17
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Kieran Jackson
“I have a problem with the downshift paddle.”
Gear issues for the teenager...
Lando Norris takes P1 back from Oscar Piastri
11:17
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Kieran Jackson
Norris goes quicker than last year’s pole time with a 1:08:972 - a staggering 1.1 seconds ahead of Piastri in P2!
Wow. Stunning time... and we’re not even at qualifying yet.
Verstappen angry with Gasly
11:14
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Kieran Jackson
Gasly didn’t know Verstappen was storming up behind him, and the Dutchman is forced to abandon his lap!
The former Red Bull teammates clashing on track..
Top-10 halfway through FP3
11:03
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Kieran Jackson
1. Lando Norris - 1:10:262
2. Piastri +0.071
3. Hamilton +0.304
4. Bearman +0.364
5. Verstappen +0.441
6. Hadjar +0.489
7. Leclerc +0.650
8. Russell +0.865
9. Alonso +0.927
10. Stroll +1.014
Lando Norris takes P1
10:56
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Kieran Jackson
Alonso wasn’t on top for long!
Norris flies to the top, going 0.071 seconds faster than Oscar Piastri, now in second.
Once more, it’s a McLaren one-two at the top.
Max Verstappen takes third place but is a whopping seven-tenths down on Norris!
35:00 to go in FP3...
Fernando Alonso quickest so far
10:53
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Kieran Jackson
Only six cars have set lap times so far and it’s Fernando Alonso - who was impressive on Friday - who is in top spot with a 1:11:062, a few tenths quicker than his teammate Lance Stroll.
Slow start to FP3
10:36
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Kieran Jackson
Not a whole load of activity early on here - as is often the case at the start of FP3 - with RB’s Isack Hadjar the only car out on track in the first five minutes.
Conditions have lightened up, with the rain seemingly set to stay away.
Third practice underway
10:30
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Kieran Jackson
And the 60-minute clock counts down for the final hour of practice at a damp Zandvoort circuit.
A big rebuild job for Lance Stroll’s garage and they’ve done a cracking job overnight, with the Aston Martin car all ready to go.
Lance Stroll speaking after his crash on Friday:
10:28
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Kieran Jackson
“Just a little lock-up, and then from there I was just a passenger,” Stroll said. “Just one of those things.”
“We looked competitive all the way throughout the day, and again Fernando now in FP2.
“I think we’re in a good spot; let’s see what we can do tomorrow.”
Final practice in Zandvoort!
10:25
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Kieran Jackson
It’s almost time for the third and final hour of practice in Zandvoort!
Lando Norris stole the show on Friday with two table-topping sessions - can he complete the full set this morning?
FP3 getting underway in five minutes.
Constructor standings heading into Dutch GP:
10:22
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Kieran Jackson
1. McLaren - 559 points
2. Ferrari - 260 points
3. Mercedes - 236 points
4. Red Bull - 194 points
5. Williams - 70 points
6. Aston Martin - 52 points
7. Sauber - 51 points
8. Racing Bulls - 45 points
9. Haas - 35 points
10. Alpine - 20 points
Lewis Hamilton says Ferrari continue to lack pace: 'A chunk off'
10:15
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Kieran Jackson
“It’s not been the worst of days,” he admitted. “I think we were making progress.
“We were obviously quite far off in FP1, a lot further than normal. First lap felt pretty decent, getting back, but a bit of a challenge from then.
“We made some progress over lunch, but still quite a chunk off, so still some work to do overnight.”
Lance Stroll walks away from high-speed crash as Lando Norris dominates Dutch GP practice
10:03
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Kieran Jackson
Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll walked away from a high-speed crash as Lando Norris delivered a commanding performance during Friday practice for the Dutch Grand Prix.
Canadian Stroll, who was forced to miss the Spanish Grand Prix after wrist surgery in June, carried huge speed into the banked turn three in the early stages of second practice but locked up and careered into the barriers.
There was extensive damage to his car but the 26-year-old was able to climb out and Aston Martin confirmed he was OK on his return to the garage.
Full FP2 report:
Driver Standings heading into round 15:
09:59
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Kieran Jackson
Piastri has a nine-point lead in the world championship to McLaren teammate Norris:
1. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 284 points
3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 187 points
4. George Russell (Mercedes) – 157 points
5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 139 points
7. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 64 points
8. Alex Albon (Williams) – 54 points
9. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) - 37 points
10. Esteban Ocon (Haas) – 27 points
11. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – 26 points
12. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – 26 points
13. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) – 22 points
14. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – 20 points
15. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – 20 points
16. Carlos Sainz (Williams) – 16 points
17. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) – 14 points
18. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) – 10 points
20. Franco Colapinto (Alpine) – 0 points
21. Jack Doohan (Alpine) – 0 points
Start times this weekend:
09:54
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Kieran Jackson
All times BST
Saturday 30 August
- FP3: 10:30am
- Qualifying: 2pm
Sunday 31 August
- Race: 2pm
F1 Dutch Grand Prix - qualifying
09:48
,
Kieran Jackson
Lando Norris is targeting pole position at the Dutch Grand Prix on F1’s return following a four-week summer break, having gone fastest in both sessions on Friday in Zandvoort.
The McLaren driver faces a title tussle and nine-point deficit with teammate Oscar Piastri and faces a tricky test for the papaya team, with qualifying set to deliver drama later today following FP3.
With 10 races left this season, there is more besides the compelling drivers’ championship title race with Lewis Hamilton desperately searching for a spark to ignite his disappointing start to life at Ferrari, having failed to secure a podium in red this term. The seven-time world champion recovered from two spins on Friday to go sixth fastest, while Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso came second in FP2 to show promise this weekend.
And Max Verstappen is enduring a rare down year with Red Bull after speculation over his future, but will be hoping for a strong showing in front of his home fans.