It was expected to be an extremely close and entertaining qualifying at Zandvoort, and although the former didn't happen, the latter did. Lando Norris returned from the summer break with plenty of speed, even snatching pole from Max Verstappen at the circuit where he has always done so.
Qualifying was also full of surprises, as Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton were eliminated in Q2. At the same time, Fernando Alonso maintained his good performance, being ‘first of the rest’, which here took him to seventh.
