FP3 Telemetry Zandvoort: McLaren Set to Dominate Qualifying, Rivals Battling for Second
The third practice session for the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort offered few surprises in terms of performance. McLaren continues to demonstrate dominance, which is even more pronounced on a track like this. The high downforce across all speed ranges provides a huge advantage both in slow and fast corners, while the car’s exceptional stability and excellent balance—slightly rearward-shifted to Norris’s preference—make it highly effective even through long corners. The section from turns 8 to 10 creates a noticeable gap between the two Papaya drivers and the rest of the grid.
Much contributes to this dominance, but beyond the outstanding aerodynamic and mechanical performance, the work on wheel cornering, which keeps tire temperatures under control, makes a massive difference on Zandvoort’s twisting sandy dunes. The soft compound tends to overheat quickly in the most challenging corners, losing performance almost immediately. All other teams are forced to manage their tires even within a single qualifying lap, whereas Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri consistently stay within the ideal window. Given these conditions, any result that does not see a McLaren front row would be a disappointment for Andrea Stella’s team.
Ferrari, Red Bull, Mercedes: similar gaps from different strengths. Watch out for Aston Martin
The chasing pack currently lacks the tools to challenge McLaren’s supremacy and will instead likely be locked in a tight fight among themselves, with Q2 and Q3 positions far from guaranteed. Red Bull, with Max Verstappen, continues to show strong performance from the exit of the Hugenholtz complex at turn 3 through to the entrance of turn 8, a high-speed section that is embedded in the DNA of the Milton Keynes car. Mercedes, on the other hand, demonstrates good overall balance, with George Russell finding an excellent line through turn 10 despite a slightly imperfect first sector, likely due to optimized tire temperature management. Traction and braking, involving longitudinal load transfers, remain Mercedes’ strength this season, particularly evident in heavy braking zones such as before the chicane at turns 11-12.
George Russell will likely battle Max Verstappen (and possibly Fernando Alonso) for P3. Ferrari shows improvement, particularly in the second half of the lap, but the half-second deficit between turns 1 and 3 and the approximately four-tenths in turns 9-10 significantly increase lap times. Charles Leclerc seems to struggle under braking, with a car that is aerodynamically inconsistent and with tires that, if not managed carefully early in the lap, lose effectiveness in the middle sector, nullifying any attempts to fight through long corners. It appears that securing the second row is not guaranteed for Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, especially considering an Aston Martin that could be competitive in these positions this weekend.
McLaren front row locked, but weather, wind, and track evolution remain key
As noted, the front row seems all but secured, with Norris appearing to have a slight edge over Piastri thanks to a marginally more rearward balance setup on the McLaren. Behind them, George Russell starts as the favorite for the second row, though Alonso will try to insert himself and Max Verstappen will surely be in contention, while Ferrari appears likely to settle just behind these drivers. However, these cars have shown extreme sensitivity to environmental factors. At Zandvoort, essentially a seaside track with highly variable weather, conditions can change rapidly: clouds can suddenly cool the asphalt, the wind can be humid or crisp, and sun exposure may completely alter tire thermal response. This means that beyond McLaren, there remains significant uncertainty for the rest of the grid. It will be fascinating to see if qualifying confirms these impressions or delivers surprises.
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