Lando Norris dominated all three practice sessions at Zandvoort but title rival Oscar Piastri produced the goods when it mattered to snatch pole position for the Dutch Grand Prix

Oscar Piastri beat Lando Norris to pole at Zandvoort(Image: LAT Images)

McLaren chief Andrea Stella labelled championship leader Oscar Piastri “a build-up driver” as the Aussie shocked team-mate Lando Norris to take pole position at the Dutch Grand Prix. The Brit had dominated practice and the early stages of qualifying but his Formula 1 title rival found his best lap when it truly mattered.

Piastri edged out Norris on their first runs of Q3 and neither could find improvement as the wind picked up for their final pushes for pole. That leaves the more experienced of the two McLaren drivers with work to do on Sunday to avoid losing ground in the championship.

There seemed to be very little between the two title-chasing drivers who were both producing some of their best driving, and that is how their team principal saw it as well. “Both drivers were driving the car at the limit and sometimes it’s just really subtle things that really make the difference,” said Stella.

“They both deserved the pole position but only one can have it. It was Oscar who did it today, so well done to Oscar.”

Asked for his thoughts on how Piastri had managed to wrestle the momentum away from Norris, who had been the quicker of the two McLaren men throughout the event up until Q3 on Saturday, Stella lauded the Aussie for the improvements he is capable of of as a race weekend progresses.

The Italian said: “We know that Oscar is a build-up driver – he builds up through the weekend and that is what he did again. He is also very capable of delivering when it is time to. Lando was very close and both drivers had imperfect laps, with little issues here and there.

“But, overall, we are happy with the result and I think they should be happy with their driving. It was difficult, there is a lot of wind today so it is difficult to put perfect laps together. A positive day and a good position for tomorrow.”

The points are handed out on a Sunday and Norris will know that he is likely to get at least one opportunity in the Grand Prix. The start will be a big chance for him to immediately take the lead if he can get the jump on Piastri but, even if he cannot do that, Stella believes there will still be more to come over the course of the race – and the rest of the season.

He added: “The intense battles are going to be a trait that we will see until the end. This is good for the sport, for racing. It makes racing entertaining.

“It is not going to be only about the start, it is going to be, like we saw in Hungary, about the strategy and the pace. Many variable, including the weather, so we will see tomorrow.”