McLaren sealed a dream front row at the Dutch Grand Prix –
but the storyline carries more intrigue than expected. Oscar Piastri delivered a stunning lap to beat teammate Lando Norris, overturning the Brit’s practice dominance. And just as surprising, Max Verstappen slashed what looked like an insurmountable gap, setting up a tense Sunday showdown.
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko was upbeat after qualifying, noting the deficit had shrunk dramatically. “This morning we were eight-tenths behind, now it’s only two-tenths. I think we’re in a position to make McLaren nervous,” he said. Verstappen, however, remained cautious, admitting that simply holding third could be difficult given Red Bull’s inconsistent race pace this season.
McLaren, meanwhile, isn’t underestimating the home hero.
Team boss Andrea Stella emphasized that the first priority is to keep Verstappen behind before letting Norris and Piastri duel. “We have to make sure we beat Max, who is only two tenths away,” he warned. The Dutchman also holds a potential trump card – an unused set of soft tyres that could come into play.
Strategy will likely decide whether Verstappen can threaten. Pirelli predicts a one-stop race on medium and hard compounds, making track position king. But Verstappen’s fresh softs provide flexibility: Red Bull could gamble late in the race if a safety car opens the door, avoiding a repeat of Barcelona where they ran out of options.
For McLaren, the mission is clear: convert qualifying dominance into a 1–2 finish. For Red Bull, the joker tyre may be the only weapon left. The big question: will Verstappen’s tactical edge be enough to disrupt McLaren’s march, or will papaya power prove unstoppable at Zandvoort?
