Wolff: The race won't be easy for us.

      Mercedes’s best result in qualifying at Zandvoort was George Russell’s fifth place. His young teammate was eliminated in the second session…

      Toto Wolff, team principal: “Throughout the weekend in Zandvoort we haven’t been able to unlock the car’s potential. The windy conditions created difficulties for George and Kimi. Sometimes the pace would unexpectedly come back, but we knew qualifying would be difficult. And so it went: Kimi was knocked out in the second session, and although George made the final, he couldn’t secure a place on the second row because of excessive oversteer. Starting from 5th and 11th on a track where overtaking is hard means the race won’t be straightforward for us. But we were quick over long runs with George in second practice and with Kimi in third, which is encouraging, and the weather could add some intrigue.”

      George Russell (5th): “I’m a bit disappointed with fifth, although the battle has been so close since the start of the weekend that in a situation like this no result is guaranteed. I couldn’t put a lap together in the final session, and although I could have fought for the second row, we ended up where we deserved. Isack Hadjar did a great job passing us—congratulations to him on that result.

      We’ll see what we can do tomorrow. The car was quick on long runs in the third practice; I hope that pace will allow me to fight for the podium.”

      Andrea Kimi Antonelli (11th): “I’m disappointed with the result. I was just a fraction off making the final. On the last lap in the second session I made a small mistake in the chicane, and that prevented me from progressing. We knew that with such tight gaps even a small mistake can make a huge difference, which is what happened. I need to be sure and make sure I don’t make such mistakes again.

      In the second and third practices I felt comfortable in the car—that’s a good sign for tomorrow’s race. The car was quick over a long stint, so I’m looking forward to the start and hope to make up for it.”