The Sprint of the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix takes place this Saturday at Zandvoort. Discover the start time and the main information to know.
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Formula 1 continues this Saturday its Dutch Grand Prix weekend with the first race on the program: the Sprint. After the sprint qualifying held on Friday, the drivers will compete over 24 laps on the Zandvoort circuit.
The Sprint start will be given at 12:00, local time, which is also 12:00 in France and Belgium.
This short race will be the first opportunity of the weekend to score points, before the Grand Prix qualifying organized later in the day.
Russell on pole ahead of Norris and Leclerc
George Russell will start the Sprint from the ideal position. The Mercedes driver secured pole in 1’11″567, ahead of Lando Norris by only 41 thousandths.
Charles Leclerc will start third at the wheel of his Ferrari, just 55 thousandths behind Russell’s time. He will share the second row with Oscar Piastri.
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The championship leader Kimi Antonelli will have to settle for fifth position. The Italian notably damaged his Mercedes during an off-track excursion in SQ1, but was able to continue the session.
Max Verstappen will start sixth for his last home Sprint at Zandvoort, just ahead of the Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton.
The Sprint schedule at Zandvoort
The Sprint of the Dutch Grand Prix will therefore start this Saturday, August 22 at 12:00 and will be contested over 24 laps.
Unlike the Sunday Grand Prix, no pit stops are mandatory. The top eight will score championship points, with eight points awarded to the winner and one to the eighth.
After the Sprint, the drivers will quickly turn to qualifying which will determine the starting grid of the Dutch Grand Prix.
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