George Russell has taken the fight to his Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli by qualifying on pole position for the sprint race at the Dutch Grand Prix. Formula 1 is returning from its midseason break. Russell snatched top spot by 0.041 of a second from McLaren’s Lando Norris. Norris won the last race in Hungary. Charles Leclerc was third for Ferrari. Standings leader Antonelli was fifth after a bumpy ride across a gravel trap in the first part of the session. His closest challenger Lewis Hamilton could manage only seventh for Ferrari.
FILE - Kyle Busch, left, and Kurt Busch, right, greet fans as they are introduced before the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Feb. 18, 2018. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)
FILE - Kurt Busch, front, gets a hug from his brother, Kyle Busch, after announcing his retirement before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Aug. 26, 2023, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)
Williams driver Carlos Sainz of Spain makes a pit stop during the sprint qualifying at the Formula One Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort , Netherlands, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic, Pool)
Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso of Spain walks in the pit lane during the sprint qualifying at the Formula One Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort , Netherlands, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic, Pool)
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco makes a pit stopduring the sprint qualifying at the Formula One Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort , Netherlands, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic, Pool)
Mercedes driver George Russell of Britain holds atrophy after taking sprint pole position for the Formula One Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort , Netherlands, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Williams driver Alexander Albon of Thailand makes a pit stop during the sprint qualifying at the Formula One Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort , Netherlands, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic, Pool)
Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain makes a pit stop during the sprint qualifying at the Formula One Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort , Netherlands, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic, Pool)
McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia makes a pit stop during the sprint qualifying at the Formula One Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort , Netherlands, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic, Pool)
