Formula 1 returns after the summer break with the Dutch Grand Prix and round 12 of the 2026 season.
Kimi Antonelli leads the world championship standings by 50 points and secured a podium last time out in Hungary. His nearest challenger is Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, while Mercedes teammate George Russell is a further five points off the pace.
Lando Norris claimed his and McLaren’s first victory of the season in Budapest and the reigning world champions will be looking to continue their decent form after the three-week summer recess.
Yet this year’s event at Zandvoort will be the last at the old-school circuit, with the Dutch GP’s contract not being renewed with F1 beyond 2026. It gives Max Verstappen, who signed a new contract this week, one last opportunity to add to his three wins in front of his adoring orange-clad supporters.
Follow live coverage of the Dutch Grand Prix with The Independent
Read MoreFive things to look forward to as F1 returns after summer break with Dutch Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton urges Ferrari to ‘apply the pressure’ on Kimi Antonelli in F1 title battle
Max Verstappen reveals how ‘close’ he was to F1 retirement before Red Bull extension
F1 DUTCH GRAND PRIX - LATEST UPDATES
- The Dutch GP starts at 2pm (BST) on Sunday
- Lando Norris starts on pole for grand prix; Russell 2nd; Antonelli 3rd
- Click HERE for the top-10 in qualifying
- Five things to look forward to as F1 returns after summer break with Dutch Grand Prix
What time is the grand prix?
Saturday 22 August 2026 16:30 , Kieran JacksonThe Dutch Grand Prix starts at 2pm (BST) on Sunday, 23 August.
Oscar Piastri, who qualified fourth:
12:54 , Kieran Jackson"A reasonable day overall across both sessions. Even if the final Sprint and Qualifying result isn't quite what I wanted, the car felt good and it is is encouraging to know that we are making progress and can compete at the sharp end. I’ll take these promising signs away and work with the team to look ahead at what work we can do to improve our race pace as the second half of the Sprint wasn't as strong as we'd like.
"We know that overtaking is not easy here, so the start will be crucial tomorrow. We are in the mix with Mercedes and Ferrari, and hopefully, the changes we've made will put us in a stronger position to fight for a Podium finish."
Pierre Gasly, who qualified 11th:
12:44 , Kieran Jackson“It was a messy session for me and we just seemed to struggle a little more compared to yesterday on low fuel. We won't be too harsh on ourselves as the pace was there for Q3, less than a tenth of a second, so we will review and see what we can do better next time.
“It is still early days with the new part and we are still learning how best to maximise the entire package and have it in an optimal set-up window. We expect it to be tight once again in the midfield tomorrow. Our eyes are fully focused on those ahead and taking the fight to them in the race for the points.”
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff:
12:37 , Kieran Jackson“Solid but a bit worried we’d slip out of the top two, tiny mistakes but it’s a good starting point for tomorrow.
“George had the upper hand, Kimi had a mistake in sector one, the stopwatch never lies.
“Track position is the main thing - if we have the pace in the long run, otherwise you’re stuck.”
Lewis Hamilton upbeat despite qualifying only fifth at Dutch GP: ‘I feel optimistic’
12:31 , Kieran JacksonLewis Hamilton remains “optimistic” that he can salvage a positive result at the Dutch Grand Prix despite only qualifying fifth on Saturday.
While Lando Norris took pole position for McLaren ahead of the Mercedes duo of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, Ferrari were trailing their rivals on one-lap pace and Hamilton could only put his car fifth on the grid, though he did pip his teammate Charles Leclerc.
Despite starting on the third row, Hamilton was upbeat in his post-session interview and pointed to Leclerc’s second-place finish in the sprint race earlier on Saturday – when he overtook Norris late on – as a means for motivation and hope heading into Sunday.
Lewis Hamilton upbeat despite qualifying only fifth at Dutch GP: ‘I feel optimistic’
Charles Leclerc, who qualified P6:
12:13 , Kieran JacksonWe know how crucial qualifying was for this race so it’s going to be a challenge to start from P6. In the Sprint, our race pace was solid, and we took a risk starting on the Soft tyres that paid off in the end. It’s a tough track to overtake on, and we took our chance at the right moment to gain a position.
“We have a few things we have to review from our qualifying, but I don’t think that pole was on the cards for us today. We’ll have to maximise the start and see what we can do with our strategy to try and get ahead of our competitors.”
QUALIFYING REPORT: Lando Norris pips Russell and Antonelli to take pole at blustery Dutch Grand Prix
12:00 , Kieran JacksonLando Norris clinched pole position at the Dutch Grand Prix after banishing his sprint struggles to end the day on top at Zandvoort.
The reigning world champion gave a bleak outlook after he was unable to challenge sprint winner George Russell in Saturday’s 24-lap dash, ultimately clinging on to third after losing out to Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
But Norris returned with a bang as he overcame testing conditions on the Dutch coast to pip Russell to pole by 0.102 seconds.
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli will start from third ahead of Oscar Piastri, while Lewis Hamilton endured a disappointing day in his title bid and qualified only fifth.
Lando Norris pips Russell and Antonelli to take pole at blustery Dutch Grand Prix
Kimi Antonelli, who qualified P3:
11:45 , Kieran Jackson“It was a difficult session for me, always found myself on the back foot, last lap did a mistake in turn 1, lost a couple of tenths, shame - we had a real shot for pole.
“In Q3 I thought we had a shot, all to play for tomorrow.”
Lewis Hamilton after qualifying fifth:
11:23 , Kieran Jackson“I was P8, and my heart sunk at that moment... but it was a much different session and car.
“When we started FP1 the car felt great, there were always areas to try and change, subtle changes, it flipped the car and was horrible in sprint qualifying and the race, no confidence in the balance, learning a new balance again.
“All the Mercedes are up ahead; we know we have a deficit on power. I think tomorrow our race pace is better; the car is better for the race.
On the grand prix: “Of course, I feel optimistic - fifth is not the greatest but it could be far worse, grateful to be there; our race pace was pretty good, Charles was good this morning. I feel optimistic; I think the car is in a better place, the right strategy with the right execution… hopefully we can challenge the guys ahead.”
George Russell after finishing second in qualifying:
08:00 , Kieran Jackson“Lando did a great job, congrats to him and McLaren - it was a strong session, P2 I'm pretty satisfied with. Get in my groove again, will try and fight with them tomorrow.
“I feel in a good place, really nice to drive around here, cooler temperatures made the track feel really fast.”
Gabriel Bortoleto after qualifying P9:
Saturday 22 August 2026 22:00 , Kieran Jackson"It was a tricky qualifying session, but also an amazing one. I struggled in Q1 and nearly got knocked out, but I kept my head down, put together the lap I needed, and made my way through and eventually into the top ten. In the end, P9 was the most we could do today, and I'm really happy we extracted the maximum from the car.
“Looking back at the Sprint, I was quite happy with my pace, although we would have needed something more to move further up. If we can get another good start tomorrow, we might have another chance to be in the mix for a good result."
Max Verstappen after qualifying P7:
Saturday 22 August 2026 18:00 , Kieran Jackson“We changed quite a bit, didn’t make a difference, balance was the same all weekend, didn’t allow me to push or feel comfortable with the car, that’s the position we’re in.
“We’re just lacking pace.”
Lando Norris after claiming pole:
Saturday 22 August 2026 16:18 , Kieran Jackson“A little surprised honestly, a decent lap, I was pushing, every hundredth can make a big difference. A good turnaround; today we felt very strong. Credit to the team.
“We made some small changes before qualifying.
“Looking forward to the race tomorrow, they make a lot of noise, a lot of energy, hopefully we can put a good show for them tomorrow.”
Top-10 in Dutch GP
Saturday 22 August 2026 16:07 , Kieran Jackson1. Lando Norris (McLaren)
2. George Russell (Mercedes)
3. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
4. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
5. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
6. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
7. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
8. Liam Lawson (Red Bull)
9. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)
10. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls)
Hamilton goes fifth
Saturday 22 August 2026 15:59 , Kieran JacksonHamilton is three-tenths short of Norris but beats his teammate Leclerc.
And Norris stays on top!
Top-10: Norris, Russell, Antonelli, Piastri, Hamilton, Leclerc, Verstappen, Lawson, Bortoleto, Lindblad
Lando Norris claims pole position
Saturday 22 August 2026 15:57 , Kieran JacksonAntonelli goes to the top with his second lap - but then Norris pips the Italian to take pole position!
Russell then nips in to get second spot.
The rain is light and the track still has the grip - what do the Ferraris have?!
Rain is here
Saturday 22 August 2026 15:55 , Kieran JacksonSo... it’s raining.
Russell and the McLarens are straight back out there - will Russell have a chance to set a proper lap?
Lando Norris on provisional pole
Saturday 22 August 2026 15:53 , Kieran JacksonAnd it’s convincing too!
Norris on pole by 0.151 secs to Russell in second, with Piastri, Leclerc and Antonelli making up the top-five.
6-10: Verstappen, Lawson, Hamilton, Lindblad, Bortoleto
7:00 to go in Q3. Will they be back out straight away given the potential rain - or will they wait?
Rain to impact end of qualifying?!
Saturday 22 August 2026 15:49 , Kieran JacksonRussell: “Is the rain still going to hit?”
Engineer: “We think last 5 minutes of qualifying.”
Oh. Big first laps then...
Q3 underway
Saturday 22 August 2026 15:48 , Kieran JacksonInterestingly, a big queue at the end of the pit-lane as we get underway with the third and final section of qualifying.
Verstappen comes out of the garage just before Russell, triggering: “We’ll probably have George crying on the radio about that release but it was fine.”
No love lost between those two!
Saturday 22 August 2026 15:43 , Kieran Jackson11. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
12. Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls)
13. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi)
14. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
15. Esteban Ocon (Haas)
16. Alex Albon (Williams)
Pierre Gasly misses out on Q3
Saturday 22 August 2026 15:42 , Kieran JacksonBit of a surprise that, given Gasly’s strong sprint race result, but he won’t be in the top-10 shootout.
Bottom-six (11-16) and out in Q2: Gasly, Tsunoda, Hulkenberg, Colapinto, Ocon, Albon
Now time for the battle for pole!
Verstappen moves up to P3
Saturday 22 August 2026 15:39 , Kieran JacksonReally good lap from the Dutchman puts him into third and safe....
Final Q2 laps coming in now...
Tsunoda close to top-10
Saturday 22 August 2026 15:34 , Kieran JacksonThe Japanese driver, filling in for Isack Hadjar/Liam Lawson at Racing Bulls this weekend, has been solid so far and is P11 after the first set of laps - can he squeeze his way in?
Piastri and Norris are quickest early on, followed by Leclerc, Russell and Hamilton.
Verstappen, in P9, will need to go quicker.
Current bottom-six (11-16): Gasly, Tsunoda, Colapinto, Hulkenberg, Ocon, Albon
Q2 underway
Saturday 22 August 2026 15:28 , Kieran JacksonQ2 begins: the usual 15 minutes where we’ll narrow down the field for the top-10 shootout.
Out in Q1
Saturday 22 August 2026 15:21 , Kieran Jackson17. Carlos Sainz (Williams)
18. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
19. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
20. Ollie Bearman (Haas)
21. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac)
22. Sergio Perez (Cadillac)
Sainz and Alonso out
Saturday 22 August 2026 15:20 , Kieran JacksonNot to be for Alonso in the end, nor for Carlos Sainz - they’re both out, as is Briton Ollie Bearman.
Sainz, in P17, misses out by just a few hundredths!
Bottom-six (17-22) and out in Q1: Sainz, Alonso, Stroll, Bearman, Bottas, Perez
Top-3: Piastri, Hamilton, Norris
Hamilton locks up
Saturday 22 August 2026 15:14 , Kieran JacksonBit of a moment for Lewis Hamilton, who locks up at the heavy turn 1 braking point and slides onto the gravel... but he keeps his car going and makes the escape road
Lap ruined - but he’s still P10 as it stands.
Current bottom-six (17-22): Bortoleto, Bearman, Ocon, Bottas, Perez, Stroll
Fernando Alonso, for Aston Martin, is currently P12!
4:00 left in Q1...
Lando Norris quickest early on
Saturday 22 August 2026 15:08 , Kieran JacksonNot that it matters too much in Q1, but Norris quickest - three-tenths ahead of Hamilton and five-tenths clear of Lawson.
At the bottom, everyone apart from the Alpines have set a lap.
Bottom-six includes the two Audis and two Haas’,
10 minutes left in Q1.
Q1 underway
Saturday 22 August 2026 15:00 , Kieran JacksonA big old queue at the end of the pit-lane as qualifying gets underway.
Huge cheers and a Mexican wave in the Dutch grandstand in Zandvoort as this opening 18-minute session begins.
George Russell after winning the sprint:
Saturday 22 August 2026 14:55 , Kieran Jackson"If there was one more lap it would have been a very different end to the race, so I was glad the rain came when it did. A really good start. The Ferraris look really fast so it's going to be a tight one this afternoon," Russell said.
"I knew if there were going to be any overtakes they'd be towards the end of the race I knew I just wanted to manage my tyres a little bit through the high speed corners and have a bit more in the tank come the end of the race. I knew if Charles got past Lando, he'd be fast and as soon as I saw Charles behind me, I dropped the hammer a little bit."
Qualifying in Zandvoort
Saturday 22 August 2026 14:51 , Kieran JacksonThe rain has cleared and the sun is out on the North Sea coast for this crucial grand prix qualifying session!
We saw how difficult it is to overtake at this track in the sprint race earlier, which makes this session even more crucial.
Will it be George Russell on pole again? Or can Kimi Antonelli make it stick at the top?
And what about Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen? We’re about to find out!
Adrian Newey makes ‘pretty confident’ claim on Fernando Alonso’s F1 future
Saturday 22 August 2026 14:45 , Kieran JacksonAston Martin team principal Adrian Newey insists he is “pretty confident” that Fernando Alonso will extend his time with the team beyond this season.
“I mean, obviously Fernando’s an amazing driver, brings huge amounts to the team, both in his feedback and his ability,” Newey said.
“So for us, of course it’s important, but pretty confident that Fernando is enjoying his time with us and that we will continue with our relationship.”
‘No-one is interested in how you drive the car’: F1 boss defends controversial 2026 regulations
Saturday 22 August 2026 14:39 , Kieran JacksonF1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali insists the sport’s wider fanbase are “not interested” in how the 2026 cars are driven – and are instead fascinated by the new level of racing this season.
But Domenicali, at the halfway stage of the season, believes the majority of fans are “fascinated” by the all-out action on track, as illustrated by a conversation at the Hungarian Grand Prix with American filmmaker George Lucas.
“No-one is interested in how you drive your car,” Domenicali said on a media call.
‘No-one is interested in how you drive’: F1 boss defends controversial regulations
Max Verstappen, a record-breaking Red Bull stay and a show of faith in Formula 1
Saturday 22 August 2026 14:31 , Kieran JacksonIn the space of six months, it has been some turnaround. The first time Max Verstappen drove the much-maligned, energy-dependent breed of 2026 Formula 1 car at February testing in Bahrain, his response was apoplectic. “Anti-racing” and “like Formula E on steroids” were two such protestations.
Six weeks on, after round three at one of Formula 1’s staple high-speed circuits, Suzuka in Japan, the Dutchman’s disgruntlement had reached boiling point. Quitting the sport seemed a real eventuality.
Full piece below:
Max Verstappen, a record-breaking Red Bull stay and a show of faith in Formula 1
Toto Wolff on Max Verstappen's Red Bull extension:
Saturday 22 August 2026 14:18 , Kieran JacksonMercedes boss Toto Wolff reacts to Max Verstappen's new Red Bull contract announcement ✍️ pic.twitter.com/QCuX9vwlx3
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) August 22, 2026
Max Verstappen reveals how ‘close’ he was to F1 retirement before Red Bull extension
Saturday 22 August 2026 14:10 , Kieran JacksonMax Verstappen has admitted he was “closer to retiring than changing teams” as he explained why he has committed to Red Bull and Formula 1 until 2030.
The four-time F1 world champion has penned a four-year extension to his contract with improved terms, despite a difficult start to the 2026 campaign which sees him winless and lying sixth in the drivers’ standings.
The 28-year-old was heavily linked with McLaren and Mercedes but also hinted at retiring from the sport after 12 consecutive seasons, given his dissatisfaction with the much-criticised new generation of cars – which Verstappen had previously described as “anti-racing.”
Yet before his home race, the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort this weekend, Verstappen announced his commitment to Red Bull for the long-term – and admitted he had his eye on finishing his F1 career with the Milton Keynes-based team.
Full quotes below:
Max Verstappen reveals how ‘close’ he was to F1 retirement before Red Bull extension
Five things to look forward to as F1 returns after summer break with Dutch Grand Prix
Saturday 22 August 2026 14:00 , Kieran JacksonKimi Antonelli heads into the second half of the Formula 1 season with all the momentum and a seismic 50-point lead in the world championship.
The 19-year-old Mercedes driver, looking to become the sport’s youngest-ever champion, has dazzled with his composure and class thus far, claiming six grand prix wins so far.
Yet teammate George Russell, who has endured a tough opening 11 races, took a small step in the right direction with pole position for the Saturday sprint race this weekend at the Dutch Grand Prix.
Zandvoort is hosting an F1 grand prix for the final time this weekend, with the old-school circuit surrounded by sand dunes on the North Sea opting not to renew its contract with the sport beyond this year.
But with 12 rounds in 16 weekends, what else is there to look forward to in the second-half of the season?
Five things to look forward to as F1 returns after summer break with Dutch Grand Prix
Martin Brundle has ‘tear in his eye’ after first half of 2026 F1 season
Saturday 22 August 2026 13:42 , Kieran JacksonMartin Brundle stated he had a “tear in his eye” when discussing the 2026 F1 season – and the impact the much-maligned new generation of cars have had on the sport.
Ex-F1 racer Brundle, one of the sport’s predominant pundits for the last three decades, spoke passionately about the new generation of cars, insisting the sport must reverse course ahead of the next engine cycle in 2031.
“I think they’re all struggling to really fully understand it, to be honest,” Brundle said of the rules, while on Sky Sports punditry duties at the Belgian Grand Prix last month.
More below:
Martin Brundle has ‘tear in his eye’ after first half of 2026 F1 season
Constructor standings after Dutch GP sprint
Saturday 22 August 2026 13:30 , Kieran Jackson1. Mercedes - 392 points
2. Ferrari - 316 points
3. McLaren - 230 points
4. Red Bull - 180 points
5. Racing Bulls - 66 points
6. Alpine - 62 points
7. Haas - 21 points
8. Audi - 12 points
9. Williams - 11 points
10. Aston Martin - 1 point
11. Cadillac - 0 points
Lewis Hamilton urges Ferrari to ‘apply the pressure’ on Kimi Antonelli in F1 title battle
Saturday 22 August 2026 13:15 , Kieran Jackson"There are pros and cons to it,” Hamilton said, when asked about Antonelli’s age amidst the tension of a world championship battle. “He's obviously very fast. He's doing an amazing job.
"When you are 19 you don't really have much else going on in your life really, so you don't have many other pressures. I remember when I was that age and things are relatively easier in life, I would say.
"Nonetheless, it's not saying he hasn't still got a hard job ahead of him, but he's been doing great.
"I'm not really looking at any weaknesses because I don't think he has shown any this season. I think we've got to just work hard to just continue to apply the pressure."
Mercedes executive predicts deciding factor in F1 title race: ‘It will have a bigger impact’
Saturday 22 August 2026 13:00 , Kieran JacksonMercedes technical director James Allison believes reliability will be the key factor in deciding which way the F1 title race swings over the second half of the season.
Kimi Antonelli leads the drivers’ championship by 50 points with a scheduled 12 rounds remaining, with Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton his closest challenger and George Russell a further five points back.
Mercedes, meanwhile, have a 72-point lead in the constructors’ championship over Ferrari as Formula 1 returns this weekend with the final iteration of the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort.
Allison, who leads Mercedes’s power unit programme and has now been at the team for a decade, believes that the potential cost of losing a maximum of 25 points with a mechanical failure is more significant than updates over the remaining weekends.
Full piece below:
Mercedes executive predicts deciding factor in title race: ‘It will have big impact’
Driver standings after Dutch GP sprint
Saturday 22 August 2026 12:45 , Kieran JacksonGeorge Russell is now just three points behind Lewis Hamilton after that win.
1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) - 224 points
2. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) - 171 points
3. George Russell (Mercedes) - 168 points
4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 145 points
5. Lando Norris (McLaren) - 134 points
6. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - 112 points
7. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) - 96 points
8. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) - 68 points
9. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) - 43 points
10. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) - 43 points
Points split in sprint race
Saturday 22 August 2026 12:32 , Kieran Jackson1. George Russell (Mercedes) - 8 points
2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 7
3. Lando Norris (McLaren) - 6
4. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) - 5
5. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) - 4
6. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - 3
7. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) - 2
8. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) - 1
Lando Norris after finishing third:
Saturday 22 August 2026 12:20 , Kieran Jackson“Not a bad result but not the best, Charles was too quick, we lacked pace and have some work to do.
“We’re very good in high speed but the car isn’t performing to the level it needs to in the slow speed corners. We still need to be happy with the progress we’re making but we need more, hopefully we can do a better job.”
Charles Leclerc after finishing second:
Saturday 22 August 2026 12:08 , Kieran JacksonOn starting on softs: “When you are the only one doing something, it’s either very right or wrong! It was a good choice in the end, we did our homework in FP1, you just hope you’ve made the right choice.
“I knew Lando didn’t have much delpoyment on the main straight but we arrived at the braking point at the same level, but it worked out.
“The car is feeling good since FP1 which is a good thing.”
George Russell after winning the sprint:
Saturday 22 August 2026 11:59 , Kieran Jackson“Great start to the weekend - one more lap could’ve been something different with the rain. Ferraris look fast so it’ll be a tight one this afternoon.
“I knew if there was going to be any overtakes, it’d be towards the end, wanted to manage my tyres.”
What time is qualifying?
Saturday 22 August 2026 11:51 , Kieran JacksonQualifying for the Dutch Grand Prix takes place at 3pm (BST) at Zandvoort.
Top-8 in the sprint race
Saturday 22 August 2026 11:45 , Kieran Jackson1. George Russell (Mercedes)
2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
3. Lando Norris (McLaren)
4. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
5. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
6. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
7. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
8. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
Rain pours down
Saturday 22 August 2026 11:38 , Kieran JacksonWow - just as the chequered flag falls, it is now pouring at Zandvoort!
“That would’ve been a sketchy last lap,” says a relieved Russell on team radio.
George Russell wins Dutch GP sprint race
Saturday 22 August 2026 11:34 , Kieran JacksonEight valuable points for George Russell as he claims the win in the 24-lap sprint race in Zandvoort!
A win secured in qualifying yesterday, really.
Charles Leclerc takes a very respectable second and Lando Norris holds on to third.
4-8: Antonelli, Piastri, Verstappen, Hamilton, Gasly
Final lap (Lap 24/24)
Saturday 22 August 2026 11:33 , Kieran JacksonAntonelli opting against a divebomb on the home straight - and decides to sit behind Norris!
Russell, out in front, has a 1.4-second lead - and is cruising to a sprint race win!
Norris now under pressure on Antonelli (Lap 22/24)
Saturday 22 August 2026 11:31 , Kieran JacksonThe reigning world champion is now being chased by the championship leader in the battle for third place - can he hold him off in the final few laps?
Top-8: Russell, Leclerc, Norris, Antonelli, Piastri, Verstappen, Hamilton, Gasly
Rain incoming? (Lap 20/24)
Saturday 22 August 2026 11:29 , Kieran JacksonAlex Albon is told there’ll be ‘level 1 rain’ on the last lap - but Max Verstappen is told the incoming rain won’t impact the race.
We’ll see!
Leclerc takes second from Norris (Lap 18/24)
Saturday 22 August 2026 11:25 , Kieran JacksonWhat a move!
Leclerc surges down the inside on the home straight and makes it stick - taking second place from Lando Norris and powerless to fight back!
That was stunning.
Leclerc very close on Norris (Lap 17/24)
Saturday 22 August 2026 11:25 , Kieran JacksonThat was REALLY close from Leclerc!
The Monegasque was very close to sending it down the inside of turn one - but opted not to and has now lost a bit of ground.
Russell, out ahead, is maintaining his 1.1-second lead.
Hamilton also within 0.7 seconds of Verstappen - but it’s a tough circuit to overtake on!
Gasly in eighth place (Lap 12/24)
Saturday 22 August 2026 11:20 , Kieran JacksonWhile the top seven looks pretty set, the battle for the final point-scoring position is on - and it’s currently occupied by Alpine’s Pierre Gasly.
Gabriel Bortoleto and Arvid Lindblad are the ones chasing behind.
Best battle in the frontrunners? Leclerc is around 0.7 secs off Norris in second now - but can’t make any further gains at this time.
Charles Leclerc under pressure (Lap 7/24)
Saturday 22 August 2026 11:13 , Kieran JacksonKimi Antonelli is making gains on Leclerc in third - is the Ferrari man’s soft tyres just wearing a little?
That being said, all the top-four are very closely matched in terms of speed right now.
Top-8: Russell, Norris, Leclerc, Antonelli, Piastri, Verstappen, Hamilton, Gasly
Russell leads comfortably (Lap 3/24)
Saturday 22 August 2026 11:08 , Kieran JacksonStrong lead of over a second for Russell, but Leclerc hasn’t quite made the inroads he’d have wanted on Norris - who is maintaining his spot in second place.
Further down, Lewis Hamilton is right on the gearbox of Max Verstappen in the battle for sixth place.
Lights out! (Lap 1/24)
Saturday 22 August 2026 11:05 , Kieran JacksonAll the top three get away cleanly - and Russell holds the lead!
Kimi Antonelli nicks fourth from Oscar Piastri and Leclerc is now right on the heels of Norris in second on those quicker tyres.
Top-8: Russell, Norris, Leclerc, Antonelli, Piastri, Verstappen, Hamilton, Gasly
Formation lap
Saturday 22 August 2026 11:01 , Kieran JacksonRussell leads the pack away then for the formation lap at Zandvoort. He’s on mediums, as is Norris - but Leclerc has gone for softs!
Everyone else in the top-16 is on mediums.
But Perez’s Cadillac is being wheeled away - he won’t be starting this race at this rate!
Arvid Lindblad, who qualified 10th:
Saturday 22 August 2026 18:48 , Kieran Jackson"It's really good to end another Saturday in Q3. Zandvoort is a new track for me and I've been enjoying driving around here since the start of the weekend. Qualifying was a solid session overall, though I'm a bit disheartened by Q3. We found something with the build-up lap on the first run on the used Softs, but unfortunately we couldn't execute it on the final lap as the rain arrived.
“Still, it's a good starting position for tomorrow. I'm grateful to the team for the work they've done and for giving me a car I can always enjoy pushing in Qualifying. It's also good to see Yuki doing a great job and getting up to speed. We're in a solid position for tomorrow; it will be important to have a good start and then we'll be on the hunt for points.”
A reminder of the starting grid for the Dutch GP sprint:
Saturday 22 August 2026 10:57 , Kieran Jackson1. George Russell (Mercedes)
2. Lando Norris (McLaren)
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
4. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
5. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
6. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
7. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
8. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
9. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)
10. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls)
11. Liam Lawson (Red Bull)
12. Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls)
13. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
14. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi)
15. Esteban Ocon (Haas)
17. Ollie Bearman (Haas)
18. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
19. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac)
20. Sergio Perez (Cadillac)
Pit lane. Carlos Sainz (Williams)
Pit lane. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
What has Verstappen said about his new deal?
Saturday 22 August 2026 10:48 , Kieran Jackson“I was closer to retiring than changing teams,” Verstappen said. “I like it here. I think it would be a great story if that were possible, being picked up by Red Bull and finishing your career with one team.
“I don't feel the need to change just to change… after the first few races [this season], I said to Laurent, 'Don't come to me with any kind of questions about the future because I didn't even know if I want to stay’.
“But honestly, we always kept it very open. I love racing, and I had a lot of very good discussions with F1, but also with the FIA. We are slowly working towards something that becomes better and better.”
Constructor standings ahead of Dutch GP
Saturday 22 August 2026 10:40 , Kieran Jackson1. Mercedes - 379 points
2. Ferrari - 307 points
3. McLaren - 220 points
4. Red Bull - 177 points
5. Racing Bulls - 66 points
6. Alpine - 61 points
7. Haas - 21 points
8. Audi - 12 points
9. Williams - 11 points
10. Aston Martin - 1 point
11. Cadillac - 0 points
Lewis Hamilton urges Ferrari to ‘apply the pressure’ on Kimi Antonelli in F1 title battle
Saturday 22 August 2026 10:29 , Kieran Jackson"There are pros and cons to it,” Hamilton said, when asked about Antonelli’s age amidst the tension of a world championship battle. “He's obviously very fast. He's doing an amazing job.
"When you are 19 you don't really have much else going on in your life really, so you don't have many other pressures. I remember when I was that age and things are relatively easier in life, I would say.
"Nonetheless, it's not saying he hasn't still got a hard job ahead of him, but he's been doing great.
"I'm not really looking at any weaknesses because I don't think he has shown any this season. I think we've got to just work hard to just continue to apply the pressure."
What is the starting grid for the Dutch GP sprint?
Saturday 22 August 2026 10:22 , Kieran Jackson1. George Russell (Mercedes)
2. Lando Norris (McLaren)
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
4. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
5. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
6. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
7. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
8. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
9. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)
10. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls)
11. Liam Lawson (Red Bull)
12. Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls)
13. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
14. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi)
15. Esteban Ocon (Haas)
17. Ollie Bearman (Haas)
18. Carlos Sainz (Williams)
19. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
20. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac)
21. Sergio Perez (Cadillac)
22. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
Top-10 in the driver standings
Saturday 22 August 2026 10:12 , Kieran JacksonKimi Antonelli has a 50-point lead over Lewis Hamilton.
1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) - 219 points
2. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) - 169 points
3. George Russell (Mercedes) - 160 points
4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 138 points
5. Lando Norris (McLaren) - 128 points
6. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - 109 points
7. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) - 92 points
8. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) - 68 points
9. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) - 43 points
10. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) - 42 points
Start times in Zandvoort this weekend:
Saturday 22 August 2026 10:07 , Kieran JacksonTime BST
Saturday 22 August
- Sprint race: 11am
- Qualifying: 3pm
Sunday 23 August
- Race: 2pm
F1 Dutch GP sprint
Saturday 22 August 2026 10:04 , Kieran JacksonGood morning and welcome to live coverage of the sprint race in Zandvoort!
F1 is back after the summer break and we’re back with a helter-skelter sprint weekend at the final Dutch Grand Prix.
George Russell is on pole ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris - what drama will we get on the North Sea coast today?
