The Big Picture
McLaren locked out the front row for the Dutch Grand Prix, with Oscar Piastri claiming his maiden pole position and Lando Norris securing P2. Max Verstappen qualified third, setting the stage for a strategic battle at Zandvoort.
Why it Matters
Tyre strategy will be crucial on Sunday. Pirelli has outlined various options, and the availability of fresh tyre sets could give some teams a critical edge in the race.
The Details
Tyre Availability
- Only two Red Bull Racing drivers and Kimi Antonelli have a fresh set of soft tyres. Antonelli and Yuki Tsunoda were eliminated in Q2 and will start from the sixth row.
- All frontrunners possess a new set of medium tyres.
- Ferrari drivers, Lewis Hamilton, and Charles Leclerc notably lack a fresh set of hard tyres.
Pirelli's Strategy Guide
- One-Stop: The primary recommendation is a medium-to-hard tyre strategy.
- Two-Stop Options: With the pit lane speed limit increased to 80 kph, two-stop strategies are also viable. These include:
- Using all three compounds (soft, medium, hard).
- A stint on mediums followed by two stints on hard tyres.
What's Next
Max Verstappen, despite starting P3, has access to fresh soft tyres—a powerful weapon if deployed effectively. The race will likely hinge on how Red Bull manages their tyre advantage against McLaren's track position, particularly given the varying hard tyre availability among top teams.