That’s all from me for today. Yara El-Shaboury will be with you for tomorrow’s race, but for now, here’s Giles Richards’ verdict from Zandvoort:

Norris’s pace and control was quite something, doubly so since he had railed against how much the car was struggling for pace after he managed only third in the sprint race on Saturday, which was won by Russell. Indeed, Norris described it as the “best lap of my life”, apparently in reference to how the car was not at its best.

For Norris this was another affirmation that he has not yet surrendered his title and that McLaren can still be in the fight with Mercedes, notably after he also took pole and victory at the last round in Hungary.

Their car development has been ferocious and, most importantly, effective, including another swathe of developments brought here, fulfilling the expectations of the team principal, Andrea Stella, whose calm assurance at the helm has been a striking piece of management as the team adjusted to the new regulations.

Wolff sees track position as key, when asked about Russell’s chances tomorrow: “If he is able to go ahead, we have the pace in the long run. If he’s not able, you’re pretty much stuck.”

What about Toto Wolff? “It’s a good starting point for tomorrow … George had the upper hand a little bit. The stopwatch never lies.”

Stella continues: “The sprint told us we had to improve the car in used tyres, reduce degradation, if we want to be competitive.” The proof will be in Sunday’s pudding.

Andrea Stella is measured, as ever, in conversation with Bernie Collins. “I think it’s a very positive qualifying session, not only for here in Zandvoort – it confirms the pole position we scored in Hungary. It gives a bit of substance to the trend.”

What does that mean? The lesson of the sprint was that the McLaren lacked race pace: both the top-10 overtakes were on their cars. Which is why Norris was managing expectations. But he will have clean air if he can get to the first corner and he won in Hungary from pole.

Norris was in danger of going all Schteve McLaren with the Dutch interviewer.

Antonelli says: “It was a difficult session for me … In Q3 I thought we had a shot, but all to play for tomorrow.”

Russell says Lando did a great job and is pleased with second “I’m in my groove again … I feel in a good place, I feel myself again.”

Norris speaks: “A little surprised … A good turnaround. We had to try something … enough to give me a bit more confidence.”

Norris ran a 1:11.163, and Piastri in fourth was only 0.142 back.

Hamilton, the last man on the track, up to fifth.

Almost three minutes left, but that is likely to be that. Norris on provisional pole.

Antonelli goes fastest, but is pipped by Norris, then Russell splits them!

Rain is falling on the camera. Russell is racing Norris for position.

It’s all about rain. Everyone going out earlier than usual.

News in brief: Nor, Rus, Pia, Lec, Ant, Ver, Law, Ham, Lin, Bor.

Hamilton only eighth, behind Lawson. Ouch.

Russell goes 0.151 behind Norris. If the rain comes, that could be that for Norris to take pole.

Norris does a 1:11.344, ahead of Piastri and Antonelli.

It is colder and the wind has picked up and there may be rain, reports Bernie Collins.

Possible unsafe release for Verstappen in front of Russell. Not that the Dutchman thinks so. Harry Benjamin can’t believe the chutzpah of his team radio message.

Lindblad and Bortoleto are the only drivers without two new sets of softs for Q3.

Some more of those Zandvoort tributes:

“Honestly, I think it’s a great track. From a driving perspective, especially in qualifying, it’s super fun,” said teen sensation Kimi Antonelli, who is leading this year’s championship.

“It’s definitely a shame to lose a track like this,” added Antonelli, as many drivers praised the “character” of Zandvoort compared to purpose-built tracks in places like the Middle East.

The fans are closer to the track than at other venues, creating a raucous atmosphere as the Dutch “orange army” roar on their beloved champion Verstappen.

“It’s proper old-school driving. It’s definitely one of the best tracks on the calendar compared to some tracks that we go to now that... lack a bit of character,” said Verstappen.

“So, yeah, it’s definitely going to be missed, for sure. It’s always been really fun to drive. Even if I would not be Dutch, you know, to drive here would have been always amazing,” he added. Agence France-Presse

Q3 entrants in order: Norris (1:11.628), Piastri (+0.013), Verstappen (+0.246), Leclerc (+0.282), Antonelli (+0.287), Russell (+0.331), Hamilton (+0.342), Lawson (+0.673), Bortoleto (+0.805) and Lindblad (+0.897). Gasly in 11th was +0.988.

Hamilton had a nasty lockup, and so did Russell. Not ideal with the shootout to come.

Norris goes fastest by 0.013 from Piastri. It doesn’t really matter as it’s Q2 but it’s good for the confidence.

Pressure on Verstappen on his home circuit for the last time but he can handle it. Up to P3, which will more than do it.

Verstappen went out on old tyres and is down in ninth. He needs some new softs for his second run, Bernie Collins averrs, to be safe.

The drop zone is Gasly, Tsunoda, Colapinto, Hulkenberg, Ocon and Albon.

It is so tight at the top. Piastri gets a 1.11.834, 0.026 faster than Norris, with Lelerc and Russell also under 1:12.000.

Russell doing well again, with a 1:11.959, with Antonelli 0.431 behind him.

Q2 under way and the locals are on their feet for Max Verstappen.

The Dutch Grand Prix will be missed:

For three days a year, the quiet residential street of Van Speijkstraat in the sleepy Dutch beach resort of Zandvoort transforms itself into a sea of orange streamers and chequered flags, welcoming Formula One fans from around the world.

Party tunes blast out from house parties, children sell home-made lemonade and friendship bracelets from little “pit stop” stalls and colossal posters of local hero – four-time world champion Max Verstappen – flutter in the sea breeze.

But to the regret of fans and drivers alike, Sunday marks the last edition of the Dutch Grand Prix, which returned to the circuit in 2021 but simply isn’t generating enough profits for the promoters.

“We try to make the greatest party ever,” said housewife Sabine Volkers, 38, as her children danced on the street and tried to entice passers-by to buy lemonade. Agence France-Presse

Norris just 0.085 behind Piastri, but Hamilton then splits the McLarens.

Last runs now. The big names are all in the top 10, with Hamilton in 10th.

Gasly has been noted for an unsafe release.

Bottom six is now Bortoleto, Bearman, Ocon, Bottas, Perez and Stroll.

Hamilton went through the gravel. That will do his car no good at all.

A really good lap for Alonso, up to 12th.

The drop zone looks like Stroll, Bottas, Perez, Bortoleto, Gasly and Colapinto. Surely that will change.

Good laps for Russell and Antonelli, in second and fourth.

Norris goes fastest now in 1:13.060, but Piastri gazumps him: 1:12.848.

Verstappen also faster than Leclerc … but 0.181 behind Lawson.

Leclerc is the first of the big seven to set a time, but is beaten by Hamilton with a 1:13.406 and then by Liam Lawson, 0.003 back.

Tsunoda does a 1:14.287 in his first main race qualifying since Abu Dhabi last year. P12 yesterday, only two places behind Racing Bulls teammate Lindblad.

Off we go. Sergio Perez one of the first out.

In the absence of David Croft, Harry Benjamin has the Sky mic, while the part of Martin Brundle will be played by Anthony Davidson.

Portentous lineup time. Almost there.

Less than 10 minutes to go.

Karun Chandhok takes a look at turn 13, where it is “absolutely blowing”. He also predicts a lot of complaints in Q1, with 22 cars on track. Bernie Collins on the pit wall says it’s “very, very gusty”, changing lap by lap.

And here are those clouds:

Bernie Collins has been talking about the North Sea wind, as well as the rain (What is this, You’ll Never Walk Alone?). When it gets up, the sand and the gravel can get on the track, as well as messing with the cars directly.

Does that make Zandvoort the F1 equivalent of a golf links?

Half an hour to go. Half an hour to watch the clouds, and the 20% chance of rain.

I’ll be back from about 2.15 for qualifying, and Giles Richards will be reporting from Zandvoort after the race for pole. For now, I’ll leave you with the PA’s report on the sprint race:

George Russell delivered a much-needed boost to his championship hopes with a commanding victory in the Dutch Grand Prix sprint. Russell endured a tough run at the last three races but has returned from the sport’s summer shutdown determined to trust his instincts in order to chase down Kimi Antonelli, the championship leader and his Mercedes teammate.

The 28-year-old shaved three points off Antonelli’s lead to sit 56 back ahead of Sunday’s main race. The Italian, who turns 20 next week, crossed the line in fourth in Saturday’s 24-lap dash around the seaside circuit of Zandvoort – hosting the final Dutch Grand Prix before it drops off the calendar.

That meant he actually extended his lead at the top of the standings by three points to 53, with second-placed Lewis Hamilton trudging home in seventh in a disappointing display as he bids to ignite his charge towards an eighth world title over the second half of the season.

Lando Norris, who earned his first win of the season in Budapest last time out, started second but was unable to offer a significant threat to Russell. He instead fell back in the closing stages, losing out to Charles Leclerc on lap 17.

Oscar Piastri was fifth in the second McLaren and Max Verstappen, fresh from signing his new Red Bull contract, finished sixth.

Russell produced a confident drive to clinch his third sprint win of the season, blasting away from pole to fend off the threat of Norris before pulling clear.

Ferrari rolled the dice with Leclerc, starting him on soft tyres from third on the grid but it was a move which did not immediately pay off as he was unable to make progress at the start.

Behind him, Antonelli got the jump on Piastri around the outside of the opening corner to claim fourth.

It was a sprint that will not live long in the memory, with that move the only one of note throughout the first 17 laps. That was until Leclerc closed within striking distance of Norris and dived up the inside of turn one to pass the reigning world champion.

Norris was then under pressure from Antonelli, the Italian on his gearbox through turn one on the final lap, but the British driver held on to claim the third spot on the sprint podium. Russell took the chequered flag 1.3 seconds ahead of Leclerc. PA Media

What does that all mean? Well, overtaking was much tougher than elsewhere this season, which means qualifying this afternoon will be especially important. And rain could have an impact. It looks as if both qualifying and the race will be dry, with the showers falling beforehand, but there’s a threat there.

Here’s how the top 10 finished

1 George Russell 🇬🇧 Mercedes – 8pts
2 Charles Leclerc 🇲🇨 Ferrari +1.360 – 7pts
3 Lando Norris 🇬🇧 McLaren +5.196 – 6pts
4 Kimi Antonelli 🇮🇹 Mercedes +5.591 – 5pts
5 Oscar Piastri 🇦🇺 McLaren +10.185 – 4pts
6 Max Verstappen 🇳🇱 Red Bull +10.529 – 3pts
7 Lewis Hamilton 🇬🇧 Ferrari +12.188 – 4pts– 2pts
8 Pierre Gasly 🇫🇷 Alpine +42.510 – 1pt
9 Gabriel Bortoleto 🇧🇷 Audi +44.437
10 Arvid Lindblad 🇬🇧 Racing Bulls +44.971

Toto Wolff is happy for Russell: “It’s not a lot of points but it’s a good boost of confidence.” He points to Antonelli’s near accident in qualifying leading to him not being so fast, not risking much.

What does that do to the standings?

1 Kimi Antonelli 🇮🇹 Mercedes 223pts
2 Lewis Hamilton 🇬🇧 Ferrari 171
3 George Russell 🇬🇧 Mercedes 168
4 Charles Leclerc 🇲🇨 Ferrari 145
5 Lando Norris 🇬🇧 McLaren 134
6 Max Verstappen 🇳🇱 Red Bull 112
7 Oscar Piastri 🇦🇺 McLaren 96
8 Isack Hadjar 🇫🇷 Red Bull 68
9 Pierre Gasly 🇫🇷 Alpine 43
10 Liam Lawson 🇳🇿 Racing Bulls 43
11 Arvid Lindblad 🇬🇧 Racing Bulls 23
12 Franco Colapinto 🇦🇷 Alpine 19
13 Oliver Bearman 🇬🇧 Haas 18
14 Gabriel Bortoleto 🇧🇷 Audi 10
15 Carlos Sainz 🇪🇸 Williams 6
16 Alexander Albon 🇹🇭 Williams 5
17 Esteban Ocon 🇫🇷 Haas 3
18 Nico Hülkenberg 🇩🇪 Audi 2
19 Fernando Alonso 🇪🇸 Aston Martin 1

Unsurprisingly, he’s happy with the setup, though will need a few tickles. “Everyone loves a tickle,” quips Coulthard.

And now Russell, starting with the rain: “One more lap and it would have been a very different end to the race.”

“I did not expect to gain a place at the end of the race on the soft tyres,” Leclerc says.

Now Leclerc, asked about the choice of softs when only one other car had them. “It’s either very right or very wrong.”

“The cars not performing to the level in the slow-speed corners.”

Norris speaks to David Coulthard. “Not a bad result, not the best. We lacked pace, we have some work to do.”

It was not a classic. If the rain had come earlier it would have been very different but that was just what Russell needed. A big confidence boost after a month off.

Lap 24/24. Antonelli going for Norris! The move wasn’t quite there.

Lap 23/24. Hulkenberg back on track, 13 laps behind.

Lap 23/24. The amount of weather talk is a reflection of the lack of racing action.

Lap 21/24. Rain on its way? Possibly, but only light and not long left.

Lap 20/24. Norris now vulnerable to Antonelli, with Leclerc flying ahead, denying Norris overtake mode.

Lap 18/24. Leclerc takes Norris on the inside!

Lap 17/24. At least Leclerc is all over Norris, while Hamilton is closing on Verstappen.

Lap 17/24. Safe to say it has not been the kind of overtake-fest we have seen a lot of the time this season.

Lap 14/24. Bernie Collins reports Mercedes are slow through turn seven, but then converting the braking energy in the straights.

Lap 13/24. Verstappen closing on Piastri now.

Lap 12/24. It’s all about 2-3-4 in the points battle, with gaps of more than a second everywhere else.

Lap 11/24. Norris saying he has no rear, and Leclerc is closing on his softs.

Lap 10/24. Russell has been told his tyre management has been on the mark and he can push, which enables him to pull clear of Norris.

Lap 7/24. The chasm in the timings is clear to see: nearly seven seconds between Hamilton in seventh and Gasly in eighth.

Lap 6/24. Something wrong with Hulkenberg’s Audi. He had dropped right back and is now called in.

Lap 5/24. Antonelli is 1.5sec ahead of Piastri and looking at Leclerc.

Lap 4/24. Norris the fastest man on the track and is right on Russell’s tail. Hamilton is all over Verstappen.

Lap 4/24. Russell has roughly a second on Norris. Perez is on track now, two laps down. Learning curve only …

Lap 2/24. Antonelli’s move on Piastri is the only change in the top 10 so far.

Lap 2/24. Pérez is in the pits …

Lap 1/24. Antonelli ahead of Piastri already and closes on Leclerc.

Lights out! Russell gets away, takes the first corner OK.

Bernie Collins points out Charles Leclerc is on softs.

Trouble for Sergio Pérez. He’s being wheeled down the pit lane.

Formation lap time. Isack Hadjar watching from the pit lane.

Looks like the senior Sky boys believe in having the whole of August off: no Croft, Lazenby or Brundle in the Netherlands this weekend.

Gabriel Bortoleto, who is just outside a points place on the sprint grid, is under investigation for an unsafe release, which could be costly.

Only 10 minutes to go. I guess I should add Tsunoda to the bottom of the standings …

Talking of the fans at Zandvoort, there are a lot fewer of them than there should be, thanks to problems on railways.

What’s been happening during the break? Well, among other matters, one driver got engaged, another tied the knot with his team, and a third has hurt a wrist, leading to a one-race switcheroo.

George Russell is the man who got engaged, proposing to Carmen Montero Mundt, his long-term partner. Talking of long-term partners, Max Verstappen has signed a new contract with Red Bull. But Isack Hadjar, who has proved himself a worthy teammate for the Dutchman, is the man with an injury.

This means Liam Lawson – demoted from Red Bull after two races last season – steps back up from Racing Bulls, while his seat there goes to Yuki Tsunoda, summoned off the beach.

So the home fans at Zandvoort have something to celebrate, in Verstappen’s commitment to the sport, but also something to mourn: the track’s ownership has decided not to bid to stage the race again, so this run of Dutch GPs, which began in 2021, is at an end.

And the constructors:

1 Mercedes 🇩🇪 379pts
2 Ferrari 🇮🇹 307
3 McLaren 🇬🇧 220
4 Red Bull 🇦🇹 177
5 Racing Bulls 🇮🇹 66
6 Alpine 🇫🇷 61
7 Haas 🇺🇸 21
8 Audi 🇩🇪 12
9 Williams 🇬🇧 11
10 Aston Martin 🇬🇧 1
11 Cadillac 🇺🇸 0

Talking of competition, here’s how the drivers’ championship looked after Hungary:

1 Kimi Antonelli 🇮🇹 Mercedes 219pts
2 Lewis Hamilton 🇬🇧 Ferrari 169
3 George Russell 🇬🇧 Mercedes 160
4 Charles Leclerc 🇲🇨 Ferrari 138
5 Lando Norris 🇬🇧 McLaren 128
6 Max Verstappen 🇳🇱 Red Bull 109
7 Oscar Piastri 🇦🇺 McLaren 92
8 Isack Hadjar 🇫🇷 Red Bull 68
9 Liam Lawson 🇳🇿 Racing Bulls 43
10 Pierre Gasly 🇫🇷 Alpine 42
11 Arvid Lindblad 🇬🇧 Racing Bulls 23
12 Franco Colapinto 🇦🇷 Alpine 19
13 Oliver Bearman 🇬🇧 Haas 18
14 Gabriel Bortoleto 🇧🇷 Audi 10
15 Carlos Sainz 🇪🇸 Williams 6
16 Alexander Albon 🇹🇭 Williams 5
17 Esteban Ocon 🇫🇷 Haas 3
18 Nico Hülkenberg 🇩🇪 Audi 2
19 Fernando Alonso 🇪🇸 Aston Martin 1

– Lance Stroll 🇨🇦 Aston Martin
– Valtteri Bottas 🇫🇮 Cadillac
– Sergio Pérez 🇲🇽 Cadillac
– Yuki Tsunoda 🇯🇵 Racing Bulls

That followed an FP1 topped by Antonelli, but with the next four cars – in order, Norris, Russell, Hamilton and Leclerc – all within 0.289 of the championship leader. That is tight, even allowing for the shortness of the circuit.

Incidentally, I imagine after four weeks off, the drivers would prefer two free practice sessions rather than having to get into the more competitive SQ1 with just an hour on track.

First, an update on the grid. Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso – who was last anyway – must start from the pit lane after their cars were modified under parc fermé. Sainz drops from 18th to 21st.

What happened in sprint qualifying? Very nearly a shocker for Kimi Antonelli, but a significant boost for his teammate George Russell. The championship leader went off on to the gravel on turn 13 in SQ1 and looked as if he could spin out completely, which would have left him in the bottom six. Luckily he held on and was able to advance, but ultimately he could manage no better than fifth on the grid, which is headed by Russell. The Briton was 0.034 faster than his compatriot Lando Norris, with Charles Leclerc a further 0.014 back in third. Piastri was fourth, followed by Antonelli, with 0.227 covering the top five. Verstappen and Hamilton were sixth and seventh.

With Hadjar injured, it’s even more about the big seven than usual: Lawson failed to make the top 10 in the second Red Bull.