Alonso, Sainz, and Checo eliminated in first qualifying round for sprint race

The Dutch Grand Prix sprint race qualifying session saw a disappointing outcome for several prominent drivers, including Spain's Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso, and Mexico's Sergio Pérez. All three were eliminated in the first round of qualifying (SQ1) on Friday, failing to advance to the next stage.

Alonso, driving for Aston Martin, experienced a difficult session. With less than four minutes remaining, his car went into the gravel at Turn 1. This incident not only damaged his tires but also prevented him from setting a competitive lap time, ultimately placing him 22nd and last on the grid for the sprint race. Sainz, in a Williams, qualified 18th, while Pérez, driving for Cadillac, secured 21st position.

Other drivers eliminated in SQ1 included Valtteri Bottas and Lance Stroll, teammates of Pérez and Alonso respectively, as well as Oliver Bearman of Haas. The fastest lap in this initial qualifying round was set by Charles Leclerc of Ferrari, who completed the 4.259-kilometer Zandvoort circuit in 1 minute and 13.011 seconds. The Dutch Grand Prix is the twelfth round of the Formula One World Championship.