The reigning world champion and undisputed leader of this season beat McLaren’s Lando Norris by 537 thousandths of a second on the Zandvoort track. Mercedes’ George Russell finished third.

Verstappen, 25, took the 28th pole position of his career and the eighth of this season. He will start from first place in the Netherlands for the third time in a row.

In Sunday’s race, he will aim for a ninth consecutive victory, which would equal Sebastian Vettel’s record from 2013.

He has won 10 of 12 races so far this season and leads teammate Sergio Pérez by 125 points. Pérez finished seventh today.

The final part of qualifying was interrupted twice after crashes involving Williams’ Logan Sargeant and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

American driver Sargeant, who reached the decisive stage for the first time in his career, hit the barrier and will start from tenth place. After the restart, Leclerc also found himself off the track. Both runners escaped without injury.

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has already finished in the second part of qualifying. The British Mercedes driver was thirteenth, two places ahead of him was Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll.

New Zealander Liam Lawson, who replaced the injured Daniel Ricciardo in the cockpit of the Alpha Tauri, will start from the last twentieth place. Ricciado, 34, broke the wrist of his left hand in a crash during second practice on Friday, is awaiting surgery and it is not yet clear when he will return to the championship.

The Dutch Grand Prix begins on Sunday at 3:00 p.m.

Qualifying for the Dutch Grand Prix, Formula 1 World Championship race at Zandvoort:

1. Verstappen (Netherlands/Red Bull) 1:10.567, 2. Norris (Brit./McLaren) -0.537, 3. Russell (Brit./Mercedes) -0.727, 4. Albon (Thailand/Williams) -0.852, 5. Alonso (Sp./Aston Martin) -0.939, 6. Sainz (Sp./Ferrari) -1.187.