Dutch Grand Prix – Qualifying

Hot on the heels of the Belgian Grand Prix, F1 has moved to Zandvoort in the Netherlands.

The main news has been the Contract Recognition Board looking at Oscar Piastri’s contracts with Alpine and McLaren. They found in favour of McLaren; Alpine said “We consider the matter closed on our side and will announce our full 2023 driver line-up in due course.” [pitpass] [BBC]

Qualifying session 1 (Q1)
Air temperature 27°C; track 39°C; humidity 31%; forecast says zero chance of rain
ZHO 1:12.641
VET 1:12.563
STR 1:12.505
RIC 1:12.490
VER 1:11.317
NOR released right into the path of TSU
(PER P2)
(LEC P2)
Unsafe release (NOR) – will be investigated after the session
(RUS P2)
(HAM P3)
5mins left of Q1; bottom 5 are VET, RIC, ALB, SCH, LAT
Only ALB on track while everyone else prepares for a final run
ALB P7; MAG P16
Only VER (P1) and LEC (P2) remain in the pits
MAG P12, NOR P16
OCO P16
Chequered flag; OCO, RIC, NOR, VET, LAT
NOR P3; GAS P16
OCO P12, MAG P16
LAT P20
VET P19 – he pitted after running wide
OCO P13, BOT P16
Replay shows RIC had a similar incident to VET, hence why he’s out
Back of the grid: BOT, MAG, RIC, VET, LAT

Qualifying session 2
No change in temps but the track is rubbering in
ALB is the only one on track but there’s a red flag due to some idiot throwing a flare onto the track 🙁
Replay of VET running wide in Q1; no yellow flag to warn NOR – poor marshaling but it does mean NOR keeps his lap time
Notice on the big screens telling the fans that flares, fireworks and other incendiary devices are banned – better late than never?
VER 1:10.927
(HAM P2)
5mins left; bottom 5 are GAS, OCO, ZHO, TSU, SCH
Garages start to empty out; just the top 3 remain (VER, HAM, PER) … no, HAM & PER go out too
ALB returns to the pitS
Chequered flag; ZHO, ALB, GAS, OCO, TSU
OCO P10
TSU P10, OCO P11
GAS P11
ALO P13
Middle of the grid: GAS, OCO, ALO, ZHO, ALB

Qualifying session 3
Top 10 shootout is between SAI, RUS, VER, LEC, HAM, NOR, PER, STR, SCH and TSU
VER 1:10.515
PER P2
SCH P3
NOR P3
TSU P4
RUS P3
HAM P2
LEC 1:10.456
SAI P4
Order after the first run: LEC, VER, HAM, SAI, PER, RUS, NOR, TSU, SCH, STR
No time for STR – Aston Martin say he has a technical problem and won’t run in Q3
2mins left
Yellow flag briefly – another flare thrown onto the track but it rolled to the gutter
LEC 1:10.363
Chequered flag
VER 1:10.342
SAI P3
Yellow flag – PER off in the final turn – that means everyone has to back off
Front of the grid: VER, LEC, SAI, HAM, PER, RUS, NOR, SCH, TSU, STR

Provisional grid: VER, LEC, SAI, HAM, PER, RUS, NOR, SCH, TSU, STR, GAS, OCO, ALO, ZHO, ALB, BOT, MAG, RIC, VET, LAT
I don’t know of any penalties at present; NOR’s unsafe release in Q1 will probably result in a $penalty for the team

[2022 calendar and line-up]