Pacesetter Piastri claims career first with slashing run for poll in the Netherlands

Australian star Oscar Piastri has produced a sizzling lap in qualifying at Zandvoort to claim a statement poll position for the Dutch grand prix.

The Melburnian secured his first poll position since the Spanish GP in June, and his fifth for the season overall, when edging his McLaren teammate Lance Norris by one hundredth of a second.

Norris, who is the main threat for the Drivers’ Championship in what is becoming a two-horse race for season honours, had been the quickest driver through qualifying but the Aussie star delivered when it mattered in qualifying on Saturday afternoon.

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Piastri and Norris had a clear buffer on four-time world champion Max Verstappen, with the Red Bull driver qualifying in third ahead of Isack Hadjar, who delivered his best qualifying drive in the Red Bulls, with George Russell posting the fifth best time.

The 24-year-old Australian posted a fastest time of 1:08.662 to pip Norris, who has won three of the past four grand prix races and clocked 1:08.674. Verstappen posted a time of 1:08.925.

Piastri, who secured the poll time with his first run in what was a strong return post the summer break, holds a nine point advantage over his teammate and rival Norris in the Drivers’ Championship, with the English star 88 points in front of the third placed Verstappen.

There are ten rounds remaining in the 2025 season, with the Italian GP next week before the circuit moves away from Europe.

Azerbaijan follows in mid-September before the Singapore GP at the start of October. The circuit then moves to North American with for the US Grand Prix, followed by races in Mexico, with a GP in Brazil prior to the return to Las Vegas in late November.

The final two races in what is a tight season will be held in Qatar on November 30 and Abu Dhabi in the first week of December.