Russell takes pole for Dutch GP sprint / Photo: SIMON WOHLFAHRT - AFP
Russell takes pole for Dutch GP sprint
Mercedes driver George Russell will be on pole position for Saturday's sprint race at the Dutch Grand Prix, setting the fastest qualifying lap time ahead of current world champion Lando Norris.
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.
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.
V.Akram--CdE
