Verstappen hails 'incredible' home Dutch Grand Prix pole

Max Verstappen claimed an "incredible" Dutch Grand Prix pole at the last throw of the qualifying dice at Zandvoort on Saturday to leave him ideally placed in his quest for a record-equalling ninth consecutive win of the season.

The massed ranks of expectant orange-clad fans braving the changeable weather went home happy as Verstappen left it late to plonk his Red Bull on the front of Sunday's grid.

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McLaren's Lando Norris will start alongside the double world champion with the second row filled by Mercedes' George Russell and Alex Albon's Williams, the London-born Thai matching his best ever grid position.

A runaway leader by 125 points in the championship Verstappen has a perfect record since his home event returned to the F1 calendar in 2021, starting from the front of the grid and winning both races.

In tricky wet-dry conditions at the unforgiving seaside circuit two red flags led to a frantic closing couple of minutes - just time to nail one final flying lap.

Not for the first time Verstappen produced the goods.

"It was a very tricky qualifying, all about staying out of trouble," said Verstappen who if he translates pole into victory will draw level with Sebastian Vettel's benchmark of nine straight wins set in 2013.

He added: "I had to risk it a bit but that last lap was very enjoyable.

"The pressure is always there to perform (at his home race) but when you can pull it off it's incredible."

Norris, over half a second back, described 'P2' as "a good result in these conditions.

"Every now and then you hope Max will make a mistake but he doesn't," the Briton added.

Fernando Alonso came in fifth ahead of Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, Sergio Perez in the other