Verstappen takes Dutch GP pole for third year in a row

Max Verstappen delivered the performance his home fans expected by taking pole position at the Dutch Grand Prix for the third year in a row on Saturday (Aug 26), after a crash-strewn wet-to-dry qualifying at Zandvoort.

The outcome left Red Bull's runaway championship leader perfectly placed for a record-equalling ninth successive win on Sunday, with his team chasing a 14th straight victory.

The orange army packing the grandstands through rain and shine still had an anxious afternoon, with McLaren's Lando Norris looking the main threat until the dying seconds.

Norris, fastest when the session was halted with four minutes remaining after Charles Leclerc crashed his Ferrari, ended up second.

Verstappen's time of one minute 10.567 seconds on a drying track was 0.537 faster than Norris could manage.

"Every now and then you hope Max makes a mistake, and he doesn't, so it's frustrating in a little way," commented the Briton as the crowd got the party going.

Six different teams filled the top six places, with George Russell third for Mercedes, Alex Albon fourth for Williams, Fernando Alonso fifth for Aston Martin and Ferrari's Carlos Sainz sixth.

"It was all about putting your laps in but also staying out of trouble. I think we managed that quite well," said Verstappen, the only driver to have won at Zandvoort since it returned to the calendar in 2021 after a 26-year absence.

"At the end when we could go onto slick tyres again there was one dry line in some places and we had to risk it a bit. But that last lap was very enjoyable."

The 25-year-old started the drier final phase on intermediates before switching to slicks with the session twice halted and everything resting on one last blast.

"I think we underestimated maybe a little bit