Verstappen outpaces Hamilton for Dutch GP’s pole position
Sports Desk, Sep 4 (EFE).- Local favorite Max Verstappen (Red Bull) on Saturday claimed the pole position at the Dutch Grand Prix, ahead of his British rival Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes).
On his final attempt, the 23-year-old Dutch lapped the 4,259-meter Zandvoort in one minute and 08.885s to grab his 10th career pole position and the seventh of the season.
“It’s an amazing feeling to get pole position here,” Verstappen, who seeks to reclaim the top spot of the overall classification, told the F1 media afterwards.
“The crowd is incredible. Today was good, I hope we can finish this off tomorrow,” he added.
Hamilton, seven-time world champion, had to settle for the second spot, just 0.038s off the pace.
“Max did an amazing lap! I was so close to catching him, I gave it everything. He deserves pole,” the Briton told the F1 media.
Hamilton’s teammate Valtteri Bottas came third, ahead of Alpha Tauri’s Frenchman Pierre Gasly.
“It’s definitely an enjoyable track with a nice atmosphere as well,” the Finn said.
“Red Bull were a little bit out of reach today. We still have two cars in the top three so all to play for. I’m sure we’re gonna see an exciting race tomorrow,” he added.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc of Monaco and Spaniard Carlos Sainz will kick off Sunday’s race from the third row as they came fifth and sixth respectively.
