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ZANDVOORT, Netherlands — Max Verstappen claimed a pulsating late pole position for Red Bull with a dramatic final lap at his home Dutch Grand Prix on Saturday, outpacing Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by just two-hundredths of a second.

To the delight of a raucous mass of home supporters in a packed crowd at the Zandvoort seaside circuit, the 24-year-old Dutchman pulled out a fastest lap of 1:10.342 to top the times and secure his second successive pole on home soil.

It was a fourth pole this season and 17th of his career for Red Bull’s world champion and runaway series leader. He was also quickest in qualifying in Belgium last weekend, but he was unable to take pole due to a grid penalty.

Leclerc was second in 1:10.363 ahead of his Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz, seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes and Sergio Perez, who crashed on his final lap in the second Red Bull.

George Russell was sixth in the second Mercedes ahead of Lando Norris of McLaren, Haas’s Mick Schumacher, Alpha Tauri’s Yuki Tsunoda and Lance Stroll of Aston Martin, who was unable to run in Q3 due to mechanical problems.

The session began in beautiful conditions with an air temperature of 24 degrees and the track at 39 and with a crackling atmosphere generated by the “orange army” which formed the majority of the capacity 105,000 crowd.

The Haas drivers were the first out and the rest followed with everyone on slicks as the times tumbled with “track progression” on the compact circuit in the North Sea sand dunes.

Verstappen demonstrated his pace by topping Q1 ahead of a rejuvenated Hamilton and Tsunoda third, as the boisterous spectators were warned again not to bring flares in or throw them on to the track.

Out from contention after a busy opening session went Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas, Kevin Magnussen of Haas, McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo, four-time champion Sebastian Vettel of Aston Martin and Williams’ Nicholas Latifi.

The flare warnings were mostly heeded, but Q2 was delayed by a red flag when a flare was thrown on the circuit, spoiling the lap of Williams’ Alex Albon, the only man on track.

Orange tide 

The International Motoring Federation announced that the person responsible for the flare had been identified and removed from the circuit.

After a six-minute pause, the action resumed and the spectators, almost all bedecked in orange, rose to roar approval as Verstappen clocked 1:10.927 with Perez taking second by three-tenths.

Encouraged by his car’s handling and potential, Hamilton went second in 1:11.075, just 0.148 off the Dutchman’s pace, while Russell slotted in fourth before being usurped by Stroll.

It was clear the evolution of the circuit favoured the later runners and in the final minutes Leclerc went second, just 0.061 off Verstappen’s pace, before his Ferrari teammate Sainz went top in 1:10.814.

Russell also improved late to grab second behind Sainz as Norris, Perez, Stroll, Schumacher and Tsunoda swept through to the top ten shootout at the expense of Pierre Gasly of Alpha Tauri, the two Alpines, Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu and Albon.

It was a timely boost for Schumacher to take his place in Q3 for the fourth time this season as discussions about his future have intensified this weekend.

As expected, the Red Bulls were first out for Q3 and Verstappen, pushing hard, laid down his marker in 1:10.515. Perez went second, half a second adrift, before Hamilton replaced him, a tenth off the pace. 

Leclerc then took control in 1:10.456, a sweeping fast lap to earn him provisional pole, but it was close with the top three, from three different teams separated by just 0.2 seconds.

The Monegasque was first out — as a flare appeared to land on track at Turn One — and managed to improve his time by a tenth, but Verstappen improved too and clocked 1:10.342 to take pole by 0.021.

It was the smallest margin of the season to win pole.

Sainz improved to take third from Hamilton, but Verstappen’s supreme middle sector had triumphed as his teammate Perez crashed in pursuit.

ZANDVOORT, Netherlands — Max Verstappen is expecting an emotional and “pretty crazy” festival as he heads into his first home race as world champion, seeking his 10th win of the season, at this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix.

Buoyant after a run of spectacular triumphs including a masterclass for Red Bull at last Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix, the runaway leader of the title race warned the clamour of a capacity crowd could be distracting as he faces a much tougher contest.

“It will be harder for us to be as dominant and I expect Ferrari to be strong,” said the 24-year-old Dutchman. “There’s a lot more downforce required at Zandvoort.

“Of course, I want a good result, but it’s important to score points, always, so let’s hope we can do a good job. My family will be there to support me, and I will enjoy the weekend with the fans.

“It’s going to be pretty crazy.”

Verstappen will pay tribute to his father Jos, a former F1 driver who guided his son through his early career, with a new helmet design.

“I thought it would be a good time to show appreciation of my dad’s efforts made for me when I was a little kid to bring me to where I am today,” he said.

“It’s a bit emotional, but I think it’s just special too because it shows how I started in karting — and the old pictures of me in go-karts are with this design. I hope a lot ‘Dutchies’ and my dad’s fans appreciate this.”

Verstappen will be seeking to repeat his stirring win last year, when the Dutch event returned after a 36-year absence, to increase his 93-point lead ahead of teammate Sergio Perez in the championship and 98-point advantage on Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

The Monegasque was left crushed by last Sunday’s result, but Ferrari believe Red Bull were heavily favoured by the nature of the circuit and can bounce back this week ahead of their own home race at Monza a week later.

“Zandvoort should be a lot better for us,” said Carlos Sainz, who was third in Belgium behind the two Red Bulls.

“Monza should be advantageous to Red Bull, but we will try to win this one.”

Hamilton ‘fired up’

Mercedes will also seek to recover from a disappointing weekend that saw seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton retire on the opening lap for the first time since 2016 after colliding with Fernando Alonso’s Alpine.

“We’re working to understand our struggles and then to utilise those learnings,” said team boss Toto Wolff, who last Sunday labelled the team’s efforts as “unacceptable”.

“It was a challenging weekend for us as a team, but those weekends are the ones that really fire you up and make you dig deeper. There were such big extremes across the weekend — from the pace differences on Saturday and Sunday to Lewis’s first lap and then George’s late bid for a podium.”

Mercedes’ history and depth of talent suggests that they should mount a more serious challenge with Ferrari, similarly stung by last Sunday’s Spa result, also set to give Red Bull a much closer challenge.

For Verstappen, it may require patience and a cool head as he bids for a fourth straight win and the 30th of his career en route to his second title. A pragmatic approach may be needed before any party begins in the Zandvoort sand dunes.

LONDON — Erling Haaland hit a second successive hat-trick as Manchester City crushed Nottingham Forest 6-0, while leaders Arsenal extended their perfect start to the Premier League season with a 2-1 win against Aston Villa on Wednesday.

City and Arsenal have set the early pace, but Liverpool are gathering momentum after snatching a last-gasp 2-1 victory against Newcastle.

Haaland has made a blistering start since his £50 million ($58 million) move from Borussia Dortmund in the close-season and the Norway striker’s latest goal spree set a Premier League record.

Haaland’s tally of nine goals after his first five appearances is a new high in the Premier League era, beating the previous mark of eight set by City great Sergio Aguero and Micky Quinn.

Inspired by Haaland’s first-half treble, Pep Guardiola’s unbeaten side ran riot at the Etihad Stadium, reaching 19 goals from just five games.

“I know he’s happy scoring goals, but I think what he wants is to win. The records are OK, but I’m pretty sure he would not like it if we did not win,” Guardiola said of Haaland.

“He is a special talent. He smells the box like no one else, his first touch of the game is a goal. That’s Erling.”

City went ahead in the 12th minute when Phil Foden’s cross reached Haaland, who poked home from close range.

Haaland, whose father Alfie played for Forest between 1993 and 1997, struck again from close range in the 23rd minute and sealed his treble eight minutes later with a header from virtually on the goal-line.

Even with Kevin De Bruyne starting on the bench, the champions were unstoppable and Joao Cancelo curled into the top corner from 20 yards in the 50th minute.

Argentine forward Julian Alvarez celebrated his first Premier League start following his move from River Plate with a brace to seal City’s biggest win since a 7-0 rout of Leeds in December.

Arsenal stay perfect 

City are two points behind Arsenal after Mikel Arteta’s side once again showed a tenacity so often missing from Gunners teams in recent seasons.

Arsenal struck in the 30th minute thanks to a gift from their former keeper Emiliano Martinez, who pushed a tame Gabriel Martinelli cross straight to Gabriel Jesus for a simple finish.

Second-bottom Villa were level when Douglas Luiz’s corner flew straight past Arsenal keeper Aaron Ramsdale in the 74th minute despite the hosts’ appeal for a foul.

But Arsenal, who came from behind to beat Fulham on Saturday, responded impressively as Martinelli restored their lead three minutes later from Bukayo Saka’s cross.

“The first half was probably one of the best we have played, then we conceded a goal and it’s game on. But the team again reacted incredibly well,” Arteta said.

Villa boss Steven Gerrard, jeered off after losing at home to West Ham on Sunday, will come under renewed pressure following his side’s fourth defeat in five games this season.

Asked if he worried about his future, Gerrard said: “Of course I do. I am really honest and critical of myself.”

At Anfield, Liverpool left it late to secure a second win this season as Fabio Carvalho’s 98th-minute goal saw off Newcastle.

Away striker Alexander Isak rocked Liverpool in the 38th minute of his debut following his £60 million move from Real Sociedad, netting with a composed finish from Sean Longstaff’s pass.

But, building on the momentum from Saturday’s 9-0 rout of Bournemouth — which equalled the record for the Premier League’s biggest win — Liverpool equalised when Roberto Firmino slotted in Mohamed Salah’s 61st-minute pass.

And, well past the original five minutes of stoppage time, Carvalho — a day after his 20th birthday — fired home to spark wild celebrations.

“The perfect moment to win because it was a difficult game. What a wonderful goal from the birthday kid. It’s massive. We will remember it for years,” Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said.

Third-placed Tottenham had to settle for a 1-1 draw at West Ham, with an own goal from Hammers defender Thilo Kehrer cancelled out by Tomas Soucek’s leveller.

Managerless Bournemouth drew 0-0 with Wolves at Dean Court in their first game following Scott Parker’s sacking after the humiliation at Liverpool.

MILAN — Paulo Dybala shot Roma top of Serie A on Tuesday with a brace which sank Monza 3-0 while Inter Milan are one point behind Jose Mourinho’s side after their 3-1 home win over Cremonese.

Argentina forward Dybala brought up his goal century in the Italian top flight after netting twice in the first 32 minutes at the Stadio Olimpico to put unbeaten Roma on 10 points from their first four games.

Roma, who also scored just after the hour through Roger Ibanez’s header from a Lorenzo Pellegrini corner, are two points ahead of third-placed AC Milan after the champions were held to a drab goalless draw at Sassuolo.

“I really wanted to get a goal, and thankfully it happened here in front of our fans so I’m really happy,” Dybala told DAZN, who added that it was “too early to talk” of a title challenge.

When asked which was his favourite of his 100 goals in Italy’s top flight, Dybala broke out into a wide grin and said: “The next one.”

Inter on Roma’s heels

Dybala’s goals came thanks to good work from Tammy Abraham, who sent the 28-year-old on his way to opening his Roma account in the 18th minute with a looping flick onto which his strike partner charged before rifling home.

The pair linked up again for Roma’s second, this time Abraham forcing a good save from Michele Di Gregorio before Dybala showed a more aggressive side to his game by beating the Monza defenders to the ball and bundling it home.

Inter are hot on Roma’s heels after bouncing back from their weekend defeat at Lazio despite having to do without star striker Romelu Lukaku.

Belgium’s Lukaku will miss Saturday’s Milan derby and most likely Inter’s Champions League opener against Bayern Munich next week.

But Joaquin Correa tapped the hosts ahead in the 12th minute and Nicolo Barella doubled their lead with a stunning volley seven minutes before half-time.

Substitute Lautaro Martinez drilled home his third of the season with 14 minutes remaining to make sure Cremonese, who scored late through David Okereke, stayed second-bottom and stuck on zero points.

Maignan saves Milan

Milan had Mike Maignan to thank for their unbeaten record staying intact, the France goalkeeper diving brilliantly to his right to keep out Domenico Berardi’s penalty midway through the first half.

“We lacked a bit of lucidity and cutting edge in certain situations and that is what we need to work on tomorrow,” Milan defender Simon Kjaer told DAZN in the aftermath of his first appearance after nine months out with a serious knee injury.

The 33-year-old lasted 79 minutes and will be hoping to stay fit for the World Cup starting in November in Qatar where his national side Denmark will face France, Tunisia and Australia in Group D.

“It’s been a lot of hard work and a lot of sacrifice. I’m very happy to get back on the pitch and lend a hand to my team,” Kjaer added.

Milan underwhelmed on their return to Reggio Emilia 100 days after winning the Scudetto there, while their sale to RedBird from fellow US investment fund Elliott Management is expected to formally go through by the end of the week.

Among the investors backing RedBird’s acquisition, according to a Financial Times report on Tuesday, are baseball’s New York Yankees and Main Street Advisors, a California-based investment firm whose partners include the likes of basketball star LeBron James and rapper Drake.

Sassuolo sit 10th on five points but will be concerned over the condition of talisman Berardi after the Italy winger was carried to the dressing rooms not long after half-time with what coach Alessio Dionisi said was a muscle problem.

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium — Red Bull team chief Christian Horner on Monday said Max Verstappen has taken “another step” since winning last season’s world title following his remarkable triumph in Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix.

The 24-year-old Dutchman’s outstanding drive from 14th on the grid, having taken a penalty for a new power-unit, to a sumptuous victory ahead of teammate Sergio Perez, who started second, was hailed by all corners of the paddock.

Horner was effusive in his praise for Verstappen who has taken a runaway 93-point lead ahead of Perez in the drivers’ championship, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc third, a further five points adrift.

“You’re witnessing a driver that is completely at one with the car and is in an absolute purple patch of his career,” he said.

“Since winning that championship last year, Max has taken another step. It’s in many ways released him and he’s driving now at an incredible level.

“Max was quite simply in a league of his own and not just in the race, but all weekend.”

Horner said Verstappen’s win was one of Red Bull’s “best-ever” performances, while special advisor Helmut Marko said they needed only “two or three” more wins to secure the title.

“The goal for us now is clear because we want to finish first and second in the championship for the first time in our history,” said Marko.

“And we need to win two or three more to make sure we are safe.”

Both men also jokingly thanked Mercedes for pushing for the new technical directive introduced to control porpoising and bouncing which has seen Red Bull increase their dominance over their rivals.

“On the face of it, I’d have to thank Toto [Wolff, Mercedes team chief] for the TD [technical directive]... But, in all seriousness, I think this circuit played to our strengths,” quipped Horner.

“Perhaps it’s hurt others more than it’s hurt ourselves so we haven’t changed the way our car operates.”

Verstappen 

avoids carnage

Horner pinpointed Verstappen’s maturity in tip-toeing through the chaos of the opening lap, when Lewis Hamilton retired after colliding with Fernando Alonso’s Alpine in one of two crashes, to lay the foundations for a stunning victory.

“Amazing performance by Max,” said Horner. “He wasn’t greedy at the start, he was very patient, particularly down at Eau Rouge, and he just picked his way through it.

“He threaded his way safely through the field.”

Verstappen explained that his opening lap ambition was merely to survive. Yet, he made up six places.

“The first lap? The thing is that I knew with the car we had, you don’t want to risk too much,” he said. “So, then, it’s even harder to stay out of trouble.

“And people were going off in the gravel, coming back on the track, and they are defending their spot. I was literally just trying to stay out of it, but you also don’t want to lose too much time...

“It was super-hectic and there was so much dirt as well. I pulled off my tear-off because I barely could see anything because everyone was just going on the grass, on the gravel, but we survived without damage.”

It was more than survival by Verstappen.

His cool drive, crushing victory and lead in the title race has reduced the next eight races to a likely demonstration of Red Bull’s proven superiority en route to ending Mercedes’ run of eight consecutive constructors’ titles.

As they arrive at Zandvoort this week, for Verstappen’s home event, Red Bull lead with 10 wins and 475 points to Ferrari’s four and 357, with Mercedes third on zero and 316. A festival is expected in the Dutch sand dunes on Sunday.

MADRID — Veteran star strikers Robert Lewandowski and Karim Benzema both hit doubles on Sunday in contrasting victories for Barcelona and La Liga leaders Real Madrid. 

Lewandowski scored twice for the second game in a row as Jules Kounde made his debut in Barcelona’s 4-0 cruise past Valladolid.

Later, Real Madrid struggled for 88 minutes at Espanyol. With the scores tied and time running out, Benzema put Real ahead before sealing a 3-1 victory after 10 eventful added minutes.

Real saved their perfect start to the season and climbed back to the top of the table on nine points after three games, ahead of Real Betis on goal difference.

Barcelona rose to third, two points further back.

“To have Lewandowski in your team is a blessing,” said Barca coach Xavi Hernandez.

“He’s an extraordinary player. Spectacular. A natural leader. It’s a blessing to have him with us, it’s marvellous. 

“He’s a model, a born worker. He’s humble, he works for the team, he helps the coaching staff, he makes the difference.”

At the Camp Nou, Xavi handed Kounde his first start after the club was finally able to register the France defender they signed from Sevilla last month for a reported 50 million euros ($49.8m).

Lewandowski hit the post with an early header.

Pedri then spotted the run of Raphinha in behind but the Brazilian was thwarted by goalkeeper Jordi Masip, who was well beaten moments later when Ousmane Dembele’s venomous shot clipped the crossbar.

Barca’s pressure told after 24 minutes as Raphinha whipped in a teasing cross which a gambling Lewandowski stabbed home.

A marauding Dembele tested Masip from range, and then created the second for Pedri by rolling a perfectly weighted ball for the midfielder to bury on the stroke of half time.

Lewandowski all but put the game beyond reach on 64 minutes, running onto a pass from Dembele and cleverly backheeling past Masip with the help of a deflection off Joaquin Fernandez.

Valladolid nearly pulled one back but Marc-Andre ter Stegen saved well from Oscar Plano and Kounde stuck out a leg on the line to keep out the follow-up effort from Roque Mesa.

Barca grabbed a fourth in stoppage time as Roberto volleyed home after Lewandowski was denied a hat-trick after Masip, a former Barcelona player, tipped his shot onto the bar.

In the late game, Vinicius Junior ran on to a sharp diagonal pass in the 12th minute to slide the ball into the far corner and give Real Madrid the lead.

Espanyol fought back. Joselu levelled after 43 minutes. He burst through and when Thibaut Courtois saved his first thump at goal and the ball bounced off Eder Militao, the Espanyol striker beat both Real players to the ball and scuffed it in.

Both teams had chances in the second half before Benzema, as so often in the last year, decided the game. After a quiet game, he found space at the far post with two minutes left, met Rodrygo’s cross and volleyed home from cose range.

Deep into frantic added time, Espanyol goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte, charged out of his box to stop a Real attack and received a red card for a foul on Dani Ceballos. 

Benzema fired home the free-kick.

“We were quite slow”, said Real coach Carlo Ancelotti. “We had difficulty managing the intensity of the match.”

Villarreal dropped their first points of the season in a 0-0 draw at Getafe as Unai Emery’s side saw the award of a penalty overturned following a VAR review in the dying stages.

AMMAN — Jordan lost 72-100 to New Zealand at the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers in Auckland, New Zealand, on Monday. Jordan had beaten India 80-64 on Thursday. The Kingdom next play the Philippines on November 10 and New Zealand on November 13.

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium — World champion Max Verstappen blew away his rivals with a command performance at the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday to extend his lead in this year’s drivers’ title with Sergio Perez finishing second for a Red Bull 1-2.

The 24-year-old Dutchman, who started from 14th on the grid, scorched through the field with devastating pace and elan to deliver crushing proof of his and Red Bull’s superiority.

In front of a packed crowd at the spectacular Spa-Francorchamps circuit, including many fans from the nearby Netherlands, Verstappen came home 17.841 seconds clear of Perez with race pole-sitter Carlos Sainz finishing third for Ferrari.

Charles Leclerc, Verstappen’s nearest challenger going into the race but now overtaken by Perez in the drivers standings, struggled in the other Ferrari after starting 15th. 

He was handed a five-second penalty for speeding in the pitlane and had to battle past Alpine’s Fernando Alonso on the last lap to snatch fifth, behind the Mercedes of George Russell. 

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton retired on the opening lap after his Mercedes collided with Alonso’s car.

“It was quite a hectic first lap to stay out of trouble,” said a calm Verstappen. “But once we settled in after the safety car, the car was really on rails.”

Verstappen has now won nine of this season’s 14 races — this was the 29th of his career and completed a hat-trick of summer victories in Europe — and sits 92 points ahead of Perez, with Leclerc a further three points behind. 

“I hoped for more today, it was a good opportunity for me,” said Perez. “But Max was flying — he was on another planet. He was untouchable.”

Sainz said: “It was harder than expected... A good start, but the pace wasn’t there. Too much over-heating.”

Flying Verstappen

Verstappen, who is already in sight of a second successive world title, was one of eight drivers to be relegated down the grid after taking new power-unit or gearbox components.

In spite of being quickest in qualifying he started 14th but quickly carved his way through the field to install himself in the easy chair up front.

The race began in bright and dry conditions following official confirmation that Belgium’s place on the calendar was secure for next year at least with a one-year contract extension.

The event had been in doubt with China and South Africa touted as additions at the expense of a traditional European race.

When the lights went out, Sainz made an excellent start, while Perez was slow to move and passed by Alonso, Hamilton and Russell. Verstappen rose smoothly from 14th on the grid to eighth.

As the field climbed through Les Combes, Hamilton collided with Alonso as he attempted to complete an impetuous pass, the Mercedes rising over the Alpine and falling violently. Both men continued, but Hamilton’s race was done.

Alonso called Hamilton an “idiot” over the radio and the Briton later took full responsibility. 

“He was in my blind spot, I didn’t give him enough space. It is my fault,” Hamilton told Sky.

The stewards took no further action but later issued a warning to Hamilton for initially refusing to visit the event medical service after the crash.

Shortly after, Nicholas Latifi went wide in his Williams and spun, taking out Valtteri Bottas’s Alfa Romeo. 

A safety car was deployed and the field settled with Sainz leading Perez, Russell and Alonso.

Soon after the resumption, Verstappen cut his way through to reach third and a podium finish by lap eight.

The impatient Dutchman surged past Perez on lap 12 as Alonso pitted, leaving the two Red Bulls leading ahead of Russell and Vettel, a near-perfect scenario for the Milton Keynes-based team that made light of Verstappen’s grid penalty.

Perez pitted after 14 laps, re-joining third in front of Leclerc as Verstappen came in from the lead on lap 15. He came out ahead of Perez.

The defending champion was in imperious mood and on lap 18, after following Sainz uphill from Eau Rouge, swept past to lead on the Kemmel Straight.

Remarkably, to the delight of the orange-clad hordes packed into the circuit, Verstappen had demolished the field before half-distance.

Three laps later, Perez passed Sainz for second.

Further pit-stops shuffled the pack briefly, but Red Bull reigned supreme.

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium — Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz claimed pole for the Belgian Grand Prix despite finishing behind Red Bull’s world champion Max Verstappen in qualifying at Spa-Francorchamps on Saturday.

Verstappen stamped his authority on the session with a scintillating lap, but due to penalties for taking new power-unit components he and six other drivers will start from back of the grid positions.

Verstappen will start in 15th with another of the “sanctioned-seven” Charles Leclerc a place behind.

The 24-year-old Dutchman, whose Belgian mother was watching from the pits, was quickest ahead of Sainz, Sergio Perez and title rival Leclerc in the second Ferrari. 

Esteban Ocon and his Alpine teammate Fernando Alonso were fifth and sixth.

The two Mercedes men seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton and George Russell were seventh and eighth, ahead of Alex Albon of Williams and Lando Norris of McLaren.

But the qualifying result had little bearing on the shape of the grid with Ocon and Norris also facing penalties.

As a result, the radically-affected grid is set to be: Sainz, Perez, Alonso, Hamilton, Russell, Alex Albon, Daniel Ricciardo, Pierre Gasly, Lance Stroll and Sebastian Vettel.

“It was an amazing qualifying, but I think all weekend we’ve been on it,” said Verstappen.

“The car has been working well and we’ve been just trying to fine-tune it — we need to move forward at the start, of course, and it would be a shame not be on the podium.”

Sainz said: “It was ok and I am happy to start from pole, but obviously not happy to see the gap to Max this weekend and the gap Red Bull has on us.”

This was Spaniard Sainz’s second career pole after July’s British Grand Prix where he went on to claim his maiden win.

Verstappen clocked a fastest lap in one minute and 43.665 seconds to outpace the Spaniard by six-tenths of a second, delighting his vast “orange army” of fans packed into the circuit.

The session was delayed by 25 minutes for barriers following an incident during an earlier supporting Porsche Supercup qualifying session.

Eventually, in cool conditions under and overcast sky, the field was slow to emerge from the pits with Haas’s Mick Schumacher clocking the first lap time in 1:47.929.

As the main contenders joined in, Verstappen was quick to top the times ahead of Sainz in front of an enthusiastic packed crowd under the trees and in the grandstands.

Both Mercedes drivers stayed out for a second “push” lap without reward, hoping to resolve problems with tyre temperature issues.

By contrast, Ferrari and Red Bull did not go out for a second run, knowing they had filled the top four places comfortably ahead of Russell.

Penalties

Out after the first session went four-time champion Vettel of Aston Martin, Nicholas Latifi of Williams, Kevin Magnussen of Haas, Alpha Tauri’s Yuki Tsunoda and Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas, the Finn’s first early exit since the 2015 Monaco GP.

Bottas, however, was another of the gang facing a grid penalty.

After finding a late improvement both Mercedes were quick to return in Q2 only to be outpaced comprehensively when the Red Bulls, led by Verstappen, took new softs.

Despite grumbling about “bouncing”, Leclerc topped the middle session ahead of the Red Bulls with Sainz fifth and Hamilton sixth while McLaren’s Ricciardo, Alpha Tauri’s Pierre Gasly, Zhou Guanyu of Alfa Romeo, Stroll of Aston Martin and Haas’s Schumacher were eliminated.

All this allowed Ocon to reach the “top 10” shootout for the first time this season with some prospect of a good race finish given that so many drivers face grid penalties.

The closing 10-minute shoot-out began with another Ferrari blunder as Leclerc sent out on new tyres. “It’s a mistake,” the team admitted on his radio channel before asking him to push anyway.

He went fourth behind Verstappen, Sainz and Perez, knowing he and the Dutchman’s efforts, and those of Norris and Ocon, were more for the crowd’s enjoyment than grid positions.