Max Verstappen storms to pole in front of home fans at Dutch GP with Lewis Hamilton second behind title rival

MAX VERSTAPPEN thrilled 70,000 home fans by winning pole for Sunday’s Dutch GP ahead of title rival Lewis Hamilton.

Red Bull ace Verstappen beat Mercedes duo Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas at Zandvoort, with Pierre Gasly an impressive fourth for Alpha Tauri.

Max Verstappen is breathing down Lewis Hamilton’s neck in the F1 title race and landed pole for his home GP in HollandCredit: Reuters

Seven-time world champ Lewis Hamilton still has one eye on winning the Dutch GP and another on retaining his world title leadCredit: Getty

Dutch star Verstappen trails Britain’s reigning world champ by just three points in this year’s title standings.

And after missing out on pole Hamilton said: “It was so close.

“First I want to say a big thank you to all the orange fans, the Dutch fans, what an amazing venue, what an amazing track.

“Great support from the fans here and I appreciate it. Max did an amazing lap. I was so close and I gave it everything.

“It’s a difficult circuit to overtake but what a place for us to be racing.

“Strategy will come into it and it’s great to see so many people here. Hopefully the track provides a great race.”

FULL STORY TO FOLLOW

Here’s how they will line up at Zandvoort for Sunday’s Dutch Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton arrives at Dutch GP wearing Holland’s famous orange colours