The China Mail - Russell roars to Dutch GP sprint pole, Antonelli fifth

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc will be third on the grid ahead of Oscar Piastri in the second McLaren.

Current world championship leader Kimi Antonelli was a surprisingly low fifth in qualifying after setting the fastest time in practice in his Mercedes.

Back for the first race after the tradional month-long summer break, Russell set a time of one minute and 11.567 seconds, 0.041 seconds faster than Leclerc, ahead of what looks like being a knife-edge battle all weekend between the top teams.

"The lap felt really good, to be honest. It all came together nicely," said Russell.

"I'm really happy to come back. It's been a little while since I've done one of these interviews," added Russell, who won the first Grand Prix of the season but has since fallen off the pace.

Home favourite Max Verstappen, roared on by an army of orange-clad fans, qualified in sixth in his Red Bull.

After rain early in the morning, the track had dried out, but Antonelli appeared to have grip issues, spinning in the first qualifying session.

- 'Special send off' -

Earlier Friday, Antonelli had laid down the gauntlet to the other teams, turning in the fastest lap in testing conditions at the only practice session.

The Dutch Grand Prix, coming a month after the last race in Hungary, comes with every sign the championship could go down to the wire in the second half of the season.

Antonelli, who turns 20 next week, has a 50-point advantage over seven-time world champion Hamilton, at 41 more than twice his age.

Antonelli and Mercedes dominated the first half of the season, with the prodigy picking up wins in six of the 11 races, including five consecutive chequered flags.

But the chasing pack have brought successful upgrades to their cars, with Mercedes admitting they are "out of sync" in terms of improvements to their own package.

McLaren are hoping to build on their triumph at the last Grand Prix before the summer break, when Norris secured his first win of the season.

The papaya outfit have strong form at Zandvoort, with Piastri winning in 2025 and Norris himself the year before.

Ferrari have also shown signs they can compete at the front of the grid, with Hamilton declaring himself the fittest he has ever been after a summer break spent in the gym.

Verstappen can never be counted out, fresh from the news that he has extended his contract with Red Bull until 2030.

The hordes of Max fans will be hoping Verstappen can deliver on his promise to give them a "special send-off" at the last Grand Prix to be staged at Zandvoort.

The Dutch seaside resort will not be on the Formula One calendar from next year, after promoters pulled the plug.

"Thanks to the fans. You guys always give us a great race and it's a very unique circuit," Russell told the crowd.

Z.Huang--ThChM