F1 Dutch Grand Prix LIVE: Qualifying updates and results at wet Zandvoort

Formula 1 returns after a four-week summer break with the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort this weekend.

Max Verstappen claimed his eighth grand prix victory in a row last time out in Belgium and now returns to his home track, where he won last year and on its return to the calendar in 2021. The Dutchman is cruising to a third F1 world championship this season and currently holds a 125-point lead to Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez.

• Dutch Grand Prix PREVIEW: Can anyone beat Max Verstappen?

Lewis Hamilton endured a difficult weekend in Belgium and at Zandvoort will be looking to claim a first race win since Saudi Arabia in December 2021. The Mercedes star is one point behind third-placed Fernando Alonso in the championship.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc claimed the final podium spot at Spa-Francorchamps which moved him up to fifth in the standings, level on points with Mercedes’ George Russell, while McLaren’s Lando Norris will be targeting a third podium in four races.

Follow live practice updates with The Independent

F1 DUTCH GRAND PRIX - QUALIFYING

• Max Verstappen claims pole for the Dutch GP; Norris 2nd; Russell 3rd

• Click HERE for the top-10 in qualifying

• RED FLAG! Charles Leclerc spins into the barrier in Q3

• CRASH! Logan Sargeant slams hs Williams into the wall

• Lewis Hamilton knocked out in Q2, also out: Stroll, Gasly, Tsunoda, Hulkenberg

• Esteban Ocon out in Q1, also out: Zhou, Magnussen, Bottas, Lawson

• Max Verstappen was quickest in a rain-impacted third practice; Russell 2nd; Perez 3rd

• Liam Lawson fills in for the injured Daniel Ricciardo this weekend

• DUTCH GP PREVIEW: Can anyone stop Max Verstappen?

Goodbye!

19:07 , Kieran Jackson

Thank you for joining us for today’s coverage of qualifying at the Dutch Grand Prix!

Max Verstappen starts on pole with Lando Norris alongside him. George Russell is in third and Alex Albon is fourth, while Lewis Hamilton has some work to do all the way down in 13th!

Join us tomorrow for all the build-up and coverage ahead of lights out at 2pm (BST)! Until then, have a very good evening!

The top-3 for tomorrow’s race!

18:02 , Kieran Jackson

Can Lando Norris or George Russell possibly steal a march on Max Verstappen at the start?

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff not happy with ‘impeding’ in Q2 which cost his man

17:38 , Kieran Jackson

What is the starting grid for the Dutch Grand Prix?

17:06 , Kieran Jackson

1) Max Verstappen

2) Lando Norris

3) George Russell

4) Alex Albon

5) Fernando Alonso

6) Carlos Sainz

7) Sergio Perez

8) Oscar Piastri

9) Charles Leclerc

10) Logan Sargeant

11) Lance Stroll

12) Pierre Gasly

13) Lewis Hamilton

14) Yuki Tsunoda

15) Nico Hulkenberg

16) Zhou Guanyu

17) Esteban Ocon

18) Kevin Magnussen

19) Valtteri Bottas

20) Liam Lawson

Max Verstappen claims pole position at home Dutch GP as Lewis Hamilton falters

16:14 , Kieran Jackson

Qualifying report

Max Verstappen delighted his home crowd by taking pole position for Sunday’s Dutch Grand Prix.

In an incident-packed wet-dry session, the unstoppable double world champion delivered a crushing lap to finish half-a-second clear of Lando Norris, who qualified second for McLaren.

George Russell will start from third place for Mercedes with the impressive Alex Albon fourth. Lewis Hamilton was eliminated in Q2 and will line up from only 13th spot in Zandvoort.

More below:

Max Verstappen claims pole position at home Dutch GP as Lewis Hamilton falters

George Russell after qualifying third:

15:49 , Kieran Jackson

“Great session, happy to be here in P3. Quali was one of my strengths at the beginning of the year but it’s gone missing... but want to fight for a podium tomorrow.

“We always struggle when it’s very wet or the crossover to slicks. We expect to rain tomorrow.”

“I’m really happy for Williams for Alex. They’ve been looking pretty handy with that performance.”

Lando Norris after qualifying second:

15:41 , Kieran Jackson

“I’m happy. P2 is a good result, am very happy. Chaotic qualifying.

“Qualifying is always stressful no matter what the conditions. First half of the lap was mega, it’s tough but I’ve always enjoyed these conditions.

Max Verstappen, after qualifying first:

15:35 , Kieran Jackson

“The pressure is always there to perform...”

TOP-10 FOR THE DUTCH GRAND PRIX

15:30 , Kieran Jackson

1) Max Verstappen

2) Lando Norris

3) George Russell

4) Alex Albon

5) Fernando Alonso

6) Carlos Sainz

7) Sergio Perez

8) Oscar Piastri

9) Charles Leclerc

10) Logan Sargeant

Max Verstappen is on pole position for the Dutch Grand Prix!

15:27 , Kieran Jackson

You knew he’d get it done, didn’t you!

Max Verstappen takes pole position with a 1:10:567, five-tenths quicker than Lando Norris’ improved lap for second! Huge roars from the grandstand!

Right at the end, George Russell takes third away from Alex Albon at Williams, who will still line up a very impressive fourth!

Q3 back underway... again!

15:22 , Kieran Jackson

Sergio Perez this time leads the pack out!

Time for one, maybe two, flying laps here...

Session will resume at 15:21 (BST)

15:21 , Kieran Jackson

So, only a few minutes delay in the end. Quick fix on the wall.

Session will resume imminently.

Current top-10:

15:20 , Kieran Jackson

Norris, Piastri, Verstappen, Russell, Leclerc, Perez, Albon, Sargeant, Alonso, Sainz

Charles Leclerc crash

15:19 , Kieran Jackson

Much like Saregeant’s, it’s a pretty big collision with the advertising boarding for Leclerc. And it may well take some fixing.

Blimey, will this qualifying session ever end?!

RED FLAG!

15:17 , Kieran Jackson

Another stoppage here - Charles Leclerc has crashed out!

The Ferrari is plunged into the wall! And that’s scuppered Fernando Alonso, with the red flag thrown just before he was about to complete his lap!

Q3 paused again! This time with 4:05 on the clock...

Lando Norris is on provisional pole!

15:16 , Kieran Jackson

Lando Norris goes fastest in the first runs with a 1:12:049, two-tenths clear of team-mate Oscar Piastri in second!

Max Verstappen only third. But Fernando Alonso is on a flier...

Q3 back underway!

15:13 , Kieran Jackson

A queue had formed at the end of the pit lane with just two cars missing: Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.

Red Bull clearly want their cars in clean air. Perez went out first, set to give Verstappen a tow at his home race.

Q3 will resume at 15:11 (BST)

15:08 , Kieran Jackson

Three more minutes to wait then...

A reminder: there will be 8:13 left on the clock. Is it all set up for a Max Verstappen pole position once again?

Delay to Q3 due to barrier repairs

15:05 , Kieran Jackson

Race control now confirming that Q3 is delayed due to the necessary repairs needed to the TECPRO barrier at turn 2.

Hold on a little bit longer, folks...

Only four drivers have set times so far

15:00 , Kieran Jackson

Alex Albon, Logan Sargeant, Carlos Sainz and George Russell are the only four drivers to have set times so far.

Sargeant will take no further part in the session. So, work to do yet for Max Verstappen with 8:13 left.

Still no word on when we’ll get underway here...

Logan Sargeant crash!

14:57 , Kieran Jackson

That crash was just outside the media centre - and you could hear the full force of what was a hefty collision with the barrier!

Sargeant seems OK though, and was picked up by the medical car.

RED FLAG!

14:54 , Kieran Jackson

From joy to despair for Logan Sargeant!

The American has absolutely slammed his Williams into the wall, losing control and spinning at turn 2!

Red flag is thrown - session is paused at 8:13 left.

Current top-3: Albon, Sargeant, Sainz

Q3 underway!

14:50 , Kieran Jackson

The final part of qualifying begins!

Who will be brave enough to go on slicks? George Russell will straight off the bat...

In fact, every driver apart from Max Verstappen! And he’s not happy about it!

DRS has been enabled for Q3!

14:47 , Kieran Jackson

Such is the drying track, the top 10 drivers will be allowed to open their rear wing for this final part of qualifying!

10 drivers involved: Verstappen, Piastri, Albon, Alonso, Leclerc, Russell, Norris, Perez, Sainz, Sargeant

Who will be on pole position for the Dutch Grand Prix?

Lewis Hamilton knocked out in Q2!

14:43 , Kieran Jackson

It’s actually a nightmare for Mercedes in the end - their leading man Lewis Hamilton is only P13 for the Dutch Grand Prix!

Deary me.

Bottom-five (11-15) and out in Q2: Stroll, Gasly, Hamilton, Tsunoda, Hulkenberg

It’s delight for Logan Sargeant, though, who sneaks through in 10th for his first Q3 appearance of the season!

Top-3: Verstappen, Piastri, Albon

14:38 , Kieran Jackson

Alex Albon now top of the pile right a 1;19:399! A huge dry line has now been formed, with times suitably tumbling.

Bottom-five (11-15): Gasly, Leclerc, Stroll, Hulkenberg, Sainz

Lewis Hamilton in P10...

Could be a nightmare double-exit for Ferrari! Carlos Sainz is just starting his out lap on fresh inters...

2:00 to go...

Track is drying quickly here!

14:35 , Kieran Jackson

Carlos Sainz, down in P15, is calling for a new set of intermediate tyres right at the end of the session!

He might well need it. Current bottom-five (11-15): Perez, Tsunoda, Hulkenberg, Gasly, Sainz

Logan Sargeant sitting precariously in P10, with Fernando Alonso in ninth.

5 minutes to go...

Lewis Hamilton again slow for Mercedes

14:31 , Kieran Jackson

Lewis Hamilton one of the slowest cars out there at the moment, along with Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez in the bottom-five!

Up top with 10 to go? Logan Sargeant for Williams with a 1:21:780!

Current bottom-five (11-15): Tsunoda, Hamilton, Perez, Sainz, Gasly

Every car still on intermediates, incidentally. Given the spits of rain we continue to get in Zandvoort, it may well stay that way at least for the rest of Q2.

However, the sun is slowly showing itself...

Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso off the hook

14:28 , Kieran Jackson

A separate stewards look involving potential impeding between Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso in Q1 requires no further investigation...

Q2 now underway!

14:25 , Kieran Jackson

Logan Sargeant the first driver out on track as Q2 begins!

15 minutes where, once again, we will lose the slowest five drivers. Who will make it to the top-10 shootout?

Sent up to the stewards...

14:23 , Kieran Jackson

Two incidents - one involving Lewis Hamilton and Lance Stroll and another between Oscar Piastri and Carlos Sainz - will be investigated after the session.

Q2 coming right up!

Esteban Ocon is out in Q1!

14:21 , Kieran Jackson

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc escape... just!

Hamilton in P12 and Leclerc, right at the end, goes P14!

Bottom-five and out of qualifying (16-20): Zhou, Ocon, Magnussen, Bottas, Lawson

Liam Lawson was well short in P20, 1.4 secs behind Logan Sargeant in P15.

Top-3: Albon, Verstappen, Piastri

Lewis Hamilton in P19 with two minutes to go

14:17 , Kieran Jackson

Current bottom-five (16-20): Leclerc, Bottas, Ocon, Hamilton, Lawson

Could it be a shock exit for the seven-time world champion?

2:00 to go. And light rain has started in the pit lane...

Pierre Gasly currently in the bottom-five!

14:10 , Kieran Jackson

Times continue to tumble as the track improves and dries out. Top-3 is currently: Piastri, Norris, Albon

More importantly, current bottom-five (16-20): Sargeant, Gasly, Tsunoda, Zhou, Lawson. That will not stay the same.

Lewis Hamilton is P10; Max Verstappen P5.

8:30 left...

Max Verstappen almost gets stuck in the gravel!

14:05 , Kieran Jackson

Wow, that would’ve been a big shock!

Max Verstappen, starting his first push lap, loses it at turn 1 and goes through the gravel - almost getting stuck - before continuing round and re-joining the racetrack!

A huge sigh of relief in the grandstands!

12:00 left - Norris, Perez, Sargeant the early top-three.

Qualifying odds!

14:05 , Kieran Jackson

Dutch Grand Prix fastest qualifier odds:

Max Verstappen - 4/9

Lando Norris - 6/1

Lewis Hamilton - 8/1

Sergio Perez - 14/1

George Russell - 18/1

Charles Leclerc - 20/1

Fernando Alonso - 25/1

Oscar Piastri - 28/1

Carlos Sainz - 40/1

Alex Albon - 50/1

Odds provided by My Betting Sites

Q1 underway!

14:02 , Kieran Jackson

George Russell leads the pack around as Q1 gets underway!

18 minutes where, by the end, we will lose the slowest five drivers!

All 20 drivers out on track straight away here... maybe they know that rain is fast approaching! Every car has intermediate tyres on them - for now.

F1 qualifying at the Dutch Grand Prix!

13:58 , Kieran Jackson

We’re just two minutes away from qualifying at Zandvoort!

It’s stopped raining - and the sun is even out! But will we get any more rain?

Quick laps in the dry will be the key here!

F1 Driver Standings

13:52 , Kieran Jackson

1) Max Verstappen - 314 points

2) Sergio Perez - 189 points

3) Fernando Alonso - 149 points

4) Lewis Hamilton - 148 points

5) Charles Leclerc - 99 points

6) George Russell - 99 points

7) Carlos Sainz - 92 points

8) Lando Norris - 69 points

9) Lance Stroll - 47 points

10) Esteban Ocon - 35 points

11) Oscar Piastri - 34 points

12) Pierre Gasly - 22 points

13) Alex Albon - 11 points

14) Nico Hulkenberg - 9 points

15) Valtteri Bottas - 5 points

16) Zhou Guanyu - 4 points

17) Yuki Tsunoda - 3 points

18) Kevin Magnussen - 2 points

19) Logan Sargeant - 0 points

20) Nyck de Vries - 0 points

21) Daniel Ricciardo - 0 points

Difference between average qualifying time this season

13:49 , Kieran Jackson

Interesting statistics here, particularly at Red Bull!

---

1. Williams, Alex Albon (85.512) vs Logan Sargaent (86.584) - 1.072

2. Red Bull, Max Verstappen (83.252) vs Sergio Perez (84.210) - 0.958

3. Alfa Romero, Valtteri Bottas (85.440) vs Zhou Guanyu (86.195) - 0.755

4. Aston Martin, Fernando Alonso (83.861) vs Lance Stroll (84.588) - 0.727

5. Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton (83.869) vs George Russell (84.197) - 0.328

6. Alpin, Esteban Ocon (85.049) vs Pierre Gasly (85.330) - 0.281

7. McLaren, Lando Norris (84.165) vs Oscar Piastri (84.336) - 0.171

8. Haas, Nico Hulkenberg (85.790) vs Kevin Magnussen (85.954) - 0.164

9. Ferrari, Charles Leclerc (83.723) vs Carlos Sainz (83.777) - 0.054

Any guesses who the crowd are rooting for this weekend?!

13:45 , Kieran Jackson

Max Verstappen is chasing a third-straight victory at Zandvoort - and a ninth-straight win this season.

Qualifying - at a very wet Zandvoort track - is coming up in 15 minutes!

Zandvoort weather update

13:41 , Kieran Jackson

It has just stopped raining at Zandvoort and while the track is still very wet, you’d think by the end of qualifying it will be borderline dry if there’s no more rain...

Setting the lap at the right time of the session will make all the difference this afternoon. Just under 20 minutes until Q1 begins...

F1 returns with the now inevitable question: can anyone beat Max Verstappen?

13:29 , Kieran Jackson

Weekend preview by Kieran Jackson

When the Dutch Grand Prix returned to the Formula 1 calendar in 2021 – after a 36-year absence – organisers could frankly not have foreseen a future more favourable. A Dutch race reincarnated by-and-large due to a Dutch hero, timed exquisitely for his era of ultra-domination. To the extent that, now, anything other than a Max Verstappen triumph come Sunday would be as big a shock as Formula 1 has seen all season.

Verstappen-mania in the Netherlands has long been at fever pitch, with the ‘Orange Army’ previously travelling across Europe to support the man born in Belgium but with Holland in his heart. But now Zandvoort, on the coast of the North Sea, sees thousands make the journey from Amsterdam and beyond to revel and rave in this electro-music, orange-clad razzmatazz amid the sand dunes.

Verstappen, coasting to a third-straight F1 championship title this season with a 125-point lead with 10 races remaining, is on track to break more ground. Win on Sunday and he will equal Sebastian Vettel’s record of nine consecutive victories from 10 years ago, also set while at Red Bull. On Friday, fresh from a four-week break, he set down an ominous marker by going fastest in first practice – and only marginally sniffed out of first spot in practice two by his friend Lando Norris, a session delayed by a bizarre double-crash involving Oscar Piastri and Daniel Ricciardo.

F1 returns with the now inevitable question: can anyone beat Max Verstappen?

Charles Leclerc gives gloomy prediction on how quick Ferrari will catch Red Bull

13:13 , Kieran Jackson

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc believes “it will be very difficult” for the chasing pack to catch Red Bull before 2026.

Red Bull have won all 12 races so far this season, with Max Verstappen claiming 10 victories and Sergio Perez two.

Leclerc, who has not won a race since last July in Austria, is an astonishing 215 points behind runaway F1 championship leader Verstappen in the standings – and was pessimistic when asked how long it would take for Ferrari and the rest to match Red Bull.

Full quotes below:

Charles Leclerc gives gloomy prediction on how quick Ferrari will catch Red Bull

What are the Constructors’ Standings?

12:58 , Kieran Jackson

1) Red Bull - 503 points

2) Mercedes - 247 points

3) Aston Martin - 196 points

4) Ferrari - 191 points

5) McLaren - 103 points

6) Alpine - 57 points

7) Williams - 11 points

8) Haas - 11 points

9) Alfa Romeo - 9 points

10) AlphaTauri - 3 points

F1 2023 mid-season awards: Best driver, worst race and biggest surprise

12:44 , Kieran Jackson

It’s a case of 12 down, 10 to go for Formula 1 in 2023.

Max Verstappen is cruising to a third-straight world championship for a Red Bull team who look invincible – and could yet go the whole season invincible.

Yet there have been other notable performances too, with Aston Martin and more recently McLaren impressing, while behemoths like Ferrari and Mercedes are left wondering how they’ve been left so far behind Red Bull yet again.

The Independent takes a look at the highlights and lowlights from the first five months of the 2023 season.

F1 2023 mid-season awards: Best driver, worst race and biggest surprise

F1 Driver Standings

12:27 , Kieran Jackson

1) Max Verstappen - 314 points

2) Sergio Perez - 189 points

3) Fernando Alonso - 149 points

4) Lewis Hamilton - 148 points

5) Charles Leclerc - 99 points

6) George Russell - 99 points

7) Carlos Sainz - 92 points

8) Lando Norris - 69 points

9) Lance Stroll - 47 points

10) Esteban Ocon - 35 points

11) Oscar Piastri - 34 points

12) Pierre Gasly - 22 points

13) Alex Albon - 11 points

14) Nico Hulkenberg - 9 points

15) Valtteri Bottas - 5 points

16) Zhou Guanyu - 4 points

17) Yuki Tsunoda - 3 points

18) Kevin Magnussen - 2 points

19) Logan Sargeant - 0 points

20) Nyck de Vries - 0 points

21) Daniel Ricciardo - 0 points

Lewis Hamilton gives blunt response to Felipe Massa’s legal action over 2008 F1 title

12:14 , Kieran Jackson

Lewis Hamilton insists he is “not focusing on what happened 15 years ago” when questioned on Thursday about Felipe Massa’s legal action over the 2008 Formula 1 title.

Massa is seeking substantial damages following the 2008 Crashgate scandal and a subsequent alleged “conspiracy” after comments earlier this year by former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

Hamilton, now a seven-time world champion, won his first F1 title in 2008 on the final lap of a dramatic final race in Brazil, with Massa missing out by a single point.

Full quotes below:

Lewis Hamilton gives blunt response to Felipe Massa’s legal action over 2008 title

Max Verstappen on top in wet final practice at Zandvoort

12:03 , Kieran Jackson

FP3 report

Max Verstappen topped a rain-interrupted final practice session for Sunday’s Dutch Grand Prix.

The concluding hour before qualifying was red-flagged on three occasions following a series of accidents in the tricky conditions at Zandvoort.

With the session a little more than 10 minutes old, Kevin Magnussen spun out in his Haas at Turn 3, before Zhou Guanyu beached his Alfa Romeo at the penultimate corner.

Liam Lawson – the New Zealander making his Formula One debut as a replacement for Daniel Ricciardo who suffered a broken wrist in practice – then performed a pirouette heading into the main straight.

Max Verstappen on top in wet final practice at Zandvoort

FULL FP3 CLASSIFICATION

11:52 , Kieran Jackson

What time is qualifying later?

11:41 , Kieran Jackson

(All times BST)

Saturday 26 August

• Qualifying: 2pm

Sunday 27 August

• Race: 2pm

Max Verstappen fastest in FP3!

11:33 , Kieran Jackson

Times were indeed tumbling at the end there, but Max Verstappen just went even faster!

The home hero is top of the leaderboard with a 1:21:631, three-tenths quicker than the Mercedes of George Russell in second!

Sergio Perez is third, with Fernando Alonso fourth and Lewis Hamilton fifth - but all at least a second behind Verstappen!

6-10: Albon, Piastri, Bottas, Leclerc, Norris

Hard session to read, given the stoppages, but if qualifying is as entertaining as that then we’re in for a treat!

Max Verstappen goes quickest!

11:25 , Kieran Jackson

Well, that’s my prediction out the window!

Max Verstappen goes fastest on intermediate tyres with a 1:23:758, nearly one full second clear of Lando Norris in second!

Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz narrowly avoid hitting the wall as his Ferrari slides off the track... it’s been an entertaining session this one!

Just 5 to go...

Session resumes almost straight away!

11:22 , Kieran Jackson

Nine minutes left on the clock as the cars make their way back out on track, with a huge queue at the end of the pit lane!

A reminder, Lando Norris currently leads a McLaren 1-2 at the top - and given the rain, it’s likely it’ll remain that way!

RED FLAG!

11:21 , Kieran Jackson

Oh no! Liam Lawson has spun into the wall!

It’s an immediate red flag but the New Zealander does get his AlphaTauri going again and makes his way back to the pits! Far from ideal on his FF1 debut!

10 minutes left - and it’s started raining again!

Lando Norris goes to the top of the timesheet!

11:14 , Kieran Jackson

Both McLarens looking very quick here!

Lando Norris goes to the top of the leaderboard with 15 minutes to go, a full 1.2secs ahead of his team-mate Oscar Piastri now in second.

Max Verstappen has dropped to third, with Sergio Perez in fourth.

Alex Albon is fifth. Times will tumble now, you’d think, as the track dries out...

Session back underway

11:09 , Kieran Jackson

With just over 20 minutes left, Zhou’s car has been cleared and we’re back underway for the third time in this session!

Can anyone set any notable times on the board? Intermediates now generally seems to be the way to go...

RED FLAG!

10:57 , Kieran Jackson

Another session stoppage - this time with Zhou Guanyu beached in the gravel!

The Chinese driver spins off the track and despite his best efforts, he can’t get his Alfa Romeo out of the gravel!

FP3 pauses again with just over half-an-hour left...

Charles Leclerc just saves it at turn 1!

10:55 , Kieran Jackson

Charles Leclerc looks set for a meeting with the wall as he slides off at turn 1... but he just saves it before reversing his Ferrari out of trouble!

Slippery stuff out here in Zandvoort! Currently, Max Verstappen is top of the timesheet with 35 minutes left with a 1:25:197 set on inters, with Lando Norris in second 1.555 seconds behind!

3-10: Leclerc, Hulkenberg, Bottas, Zhou, Gasly, Tsunoda, Albon, Hamilton

Session resumes again

10:48 , Kieran Jackson

With Magnussen’s stricken Haas cleared from the track, Valtteri Bottas’ Alfa Romeo is the first car back out on track as the session resumes with 42 minutes left on the clock.

Among those yet to go out on track are Charles Leclerc and Lance Stroll.

RED FLAG!

10:41 , Kieran Jackson

It seemed inevitable and now someone has put it in the wall!

Kevin Magnussen is the guilty party, with his Has facing the wrong way after clashing with the barrier following a spin at turn 3!

That’s where Oscar Piastri and Daniel Ricciardo lost it yesterday!

Red flag is out - but the clock will continue to tick down from 50 minutes.

Max Verstappen almost puts it in the wall at turn 3!

10:35 , Kieran Jackson

Verstappen has to take drastic action to avoid the wall, and he goes ono the grass and through the wet dirt to get back on track!

“I don’t know what happened there, just lost all grip!”

Could be a lively session this!

Liam Lawson the second driver out on track

10:33 , Kieran Jackson

Best to start straight away!

Liam Lawson, making his full F1 debut this weekend, is carefully making his way around Circuit Zandvoort on his first lap in Daniel Ricciardo’s AlphaTauri!

The third driver to be behind the wheel of this car!

Zhou Guanyu, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri all out now, Norris on intermediates.

FP3 underway!

10:30 , Kieran Jackson

And who’s the only driver straight out on track? Max Verstappen, of course. On full wets.

That’ll delight the wet crowd sitting in the grandstands!

Third practice at the Dutch Grand Prix

10:25 , Kieran Jackson

It’s wet and windy at Zandvoort this morning, which will make a third practice session even more arduous for debutant Liam Lawson today!

It’s the final hour of practice and with rain potentially falling for qualifying this afternoon, all the drivers will be eager to learn the ropes of rain on this short and twisty circuit.

What’s more, it hasn’t rained at all in the previous two editions of the Dutch Grand Prix!

Charles Leclerc gives gloomy prediction on how quick Ferrari will catch Red Bull

10:18 , Kieran Jackson

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc believes “it will be very difficult” for the chasing pack to catch Red Bull before 2026.

Red Bull have won all 12 races so far this season, with Max Verstappen claiming 10 victories and Sergio Perez two.

Leclerc, who has not won a race since last July in Austria, is an astonishing 215 points behind runaway F1 championship leader Verstappen in the standings – and was pessimistic when asked how long it would take for Ferrari and the rest to match Red Bull.

“They [Red Bull] have a really big margin,” he said on Thursday, ahead of this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix.

“It’s going to be very, very difficult to catch them before the change of regulations.”

F1 Driver Standings

10:10 , Kieran Jackson

1) Max Verstappen - 314 points

2) Sergio Perez - 189 points

3) Fernando Alonso - 149 points

4) Lewis Hamilton - 148 points

5) Charles Leclerc - 99 points

6) George Russell - 99 points

7) Carlos Sainz - 92 points

8) Lando Norris - 69 points

9) Lance Stroll - 47 points

10) Esteban Ocon - 35 points

11) Oscar Piastri - 34 points

12) Pierre Gasly - 22 points

13) Alex Albon - 11 points

14) Nico Hulkenberg - 9 points

15) Valtteri Bottas - 5 points

16) Zhou Guanyu - 4 points

17) Yuki Tsunoda - 3 points

18) Kevin Magnussen - 2 points

19) Logan Sargeant - 0 points

20) Nyck de Vries - 0 points

21) Daniel Ricciardo - 0 points

F1 returns with the now inevitable question: can anyone beat Max Verstappen?

09:59 , Kieran Jackson

Weekend preview by Kieran Jackson

When the Dutch Grand Prix returned to the Formula 1 calendar in 2021 – after a 36-year absence – organisers could frankly not have foreseen a future more favourable. A Dutch race reincarnated by-and-large due to a Dutch hero, timed exquisitely for his era of ultra-domination. To the extent that, now, anything other than a Max Verstappen triumph come Sunday would be as big a shock as Formula 1 has seen all season.

Verstappen-mania in the Netherlands has long been at fever pitch, with the ‘Orange Army’ previously travelling across Europe to support the man born in Belgium but with Holland in his heart. But now Zandvoort, on the coast of the North Sea, sees thousands make the journey from Amsterdam and beyond to revel and rave in this electro-music, orange-clad razzmatazz amid the sand dunes.

Verstappen, coasting to a third-straight F1 championship title this season with a 125-point lead with 10 races remaining, is on track to break more ground. Win on Sunday and he will equal Sebastian Vettel’s record of nine consecutive victories from 10 years ago, also set while at Red Bull. On Friday, fresh from a four-week break, he set down an ominous marker by going fastest in first practice – and only marginally sniffed out of first spot in practice two by his friend Lando Norris, a session delayed by a bizarre double-crash involving Oscar Piastri and Daniel Ricciardo.

F1 returns with the now inevitable question: can anyone beat Max Verstappen?

What are the Constructors’ Standings?

09:51 , Kieran Jackson

1) Red Bull - 503 points

2) Mercedes - 247 points

3) Aston Martin - 196 points

4) Ferrari - 191 points

5) McLaren - 103 points

6) Alpine - 57 points

7) Williams - 11 points

8) Haas - 11 points

9) Alfa Romeo - 9 points

10) AlphaTauri - 3 points

Daniel Ricciardo ruled out of Dutch Grand Prix

09:43 , Kieran Jackson

Daniel Ricciardo has been ruled out of this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix after breaking his wrist in practice on Friday.

The Australian, who returned to Formula 1 with AlphaTauri last month, hit the barrier in second practice after compatriot Oscar Piastri collided with the wall at the same corner moments earlier. It was later confirmed on Friday evening that Ricciardo had broken his wrist.

Red Bull reserve driver Liam Lawson, 21, will replace Ricciardo for qualifying on Saturday and the race on Sunday in what will be his full F1 debut.

Daniel Ricciardo ruled out of Dutch Grand Prix

F1 qualifying at the Dutch Grand Prix

09:41 , Kieran Jackson

Formula 1 returns after a four-week summer break with the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort this weekend.

Max Verstappen claimed his eighth grand prix victory in a row last time out in Belgium and now returns to his home track, where he won last year and on its return to the calendar in 2021. The Dutchman is cruising to a third F1 world championship this season and currently holds a 125-point lead to Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez.

Lewis Hamilton endured a difficult weekend in Belgium and at Zandvoort will be looking to claim a first race win since Saudi Arabia in December 2021. The Mercedes star is one point behind third-placed Fernando Alonso in the championship.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc claimed the final podium spot at Spa-Francorchamps which moved him up to fifth in the standings, level on points with Mercedes’ George Russell, while McLaren’s Lando Norris will be targeting a third podium in four races.

Liam Lawson fills in for the injured Daniel Ricciardo this weekend.