Abbi Pulling
F1 Academy champion on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

George Russell got a really poor start there as well having a massive snap of oversteer trying to fend off the likes of the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc.

All going well for Oscar Piastri here as he starts building up his lead out in front and he is currently 1.5s ahead of Max Verstappen.

Lando Norris, meanwhile, appears to have backed off and thinking now of the long game and managing his tyres.

LIGHTS OUT!

What a start by Max Verstappen as he battles with Lando Norris to get into second. He attempts a move at the first corner, Norris covers it off but then Verstrappen gets the job done moments later, even after briefly putting two of his tyres on the grass.

Image source, Reuters

The cars are all lined up in their positions on the grid.

All that's left is for those lights to go out...

Image source, Getty Images

Pole sitter Oscar Piastri said before the race: "I'm starting from the best spot so hopefully I don't have to do too much work.

"I will just try and have a good start and if I can keep some clean air then that would be pretty handy for my race."

The tyre blankets are off and most of the field have gone for mediums.

Max Verstappen, in third, has gone for softs.

Oliver Bearman is starting from the pit lane after making changes to his power unit. He's on hards.

Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent in Zandvoort

A bit of concern for Lewis Hamilton, as he has to report to the stewards after the race on the charge of not lifting under yellow flags on the laps to the grid.

Image source, Getty Images

McLaren CEO Zak Brown on the strategy for Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. He told Sky Sports: "We let them go and we watch an exciting race. Qualifying was awesome, to see both drivers just at the top of their game and getting everything out of the car.

"Normally one outqualifies the other and the second one is a bit bummed, I think they felt it was such a good lap by both of them it was like a hats off, so they're free to race.

"Max [Verstappen] will stick his nose in there given the opportunity so we just need a clean first lap."

On the start: "Lap one and the start is always a bit nerve-racking regardless of where you are because so much happens.

"Here you can pass on the outside or the inside, a little harder to defend but I think this is going to be an exciting first lap."

Image source, Getty Images

George Russell starts in P5 and he spoke to Sky Sports: "It's going to be tough [to fight for the podium]. I think overtaking here is one of the hardest but there's a few rain drops in the sky and being on the coast that can change very quickly as well."

On getting in front of Isack Hadjar quickly: "He did a great job yesterday and I think we will have the pace advantage over him today but if I can't get past him at the start it won't be straightforward."

Image source, Racing Bulls

Racing Bulls have posted this picture of Max Verstappen with a young Isack Hadjar, as the two line up alongside each other on the second row today.

It feels like two minutes since I was seeing pictures of a young Verstappen at races and now I feel very old.

A flypast completes a fantastic build-up to the race as the drivers go through their final bits of warm ups on the grid.

As usual there's the mix of celebs and sportspeople on the grid.

One of those is Dutch footballer Xavi Simons, who has recently joined Tottenham.

"Here is my hometown and I am supporting Max," he tells Sky Sports.

Lorraine McKenna
BBC Sport Journalist in Zandvoort

Image source, BBC Sport

The pits has just been a whirlwind of activity as cars made their way back to base after a few laps to scope out the Zandvoort circuit. Polesitter Oscar Piastri slowly made his way down the pit lane, closely followed by Mercedes’ George Russell, who starts fifth on today’s grid. The dark clouds have begun to form over the circuit. There is a chance of rain, so says a Norwegian shipping forecast app, but it’s due to hit around 5pm local time.

Image source, BBC Sport

It is all very lively on the grid too with an oompah band blasting out a collection of European music. The fans in the grandstand are also holding coloured flags which when viewed from above make out the colours of the Dutch flag.

A fantastic atmosphere as we edge closer to lights out.

Lorraine McKenna
BBC Sport Journalist in Zandvoort

Image source, BBC Sport

The fan zone in Zandvoort is an assault on the senses, with the music blasting, beers flowing and a friendly, party atmosphere wherever you end up wandering to.

You can also try out the F1 simulator, put your face in the ‘blast lane’ (and look like the picture below) and of course, buy extremely expensive merchandise.

The Max Verstappen goods fly off the shelves, obviously, but McLaren have also got their own stand in the fan zone. However, when I spoke to the staff at one stall near the Verstappen grandstand yesterday, they said that while all teams are popular with the Dutch fans, it’s Ferrari merchandise this year that is out-selling the rest, including Red Bull.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Brandon Burgess

The cost of attending one Formula 1 race is pricey enough, but is it possible to attend all 24 grands prix this season on a £20,000 budget? One British fan thinks it can be done.

Brandon Burgess, 29, set off on his epic journey of five continents and 21 countries in March and hopes to show fans it is achievable to go and enjoy the sport many consider a rich man’s game.

"It's been my ultimate dream," Burgess, who has been an F1 fan since the age of two, tells BBC Sport at the Dutch Grand Prix.

"I weighed it up for a good week, and obviously it's such a commitment. But then I thought 'if I don't do it now, then I’ll never do it'.

“I'm young, I don't really have many responsibilities. I'm like 'if I don't do it this year, then maybe life changes and moves on'."

Read more in Lorraine McKenna's article here.

Image source, Getty Images

McLaren's Lando Norris will be starting in P2. He spoke to Sky Sports on his plans for the race: "Just getting a perfect start I guess, there's not really much else I can do from here, it's my best chance, that's all I can try and do.

"If things don't go my way, I have a long race ahead of me otherwise and I've got to be prepared for that. Will just hope for the best."

On Max Verstappen starting in third: "At the minute, we're eyes forward but Max is Max and we know he can be an issue but we know in every single race that can be the case.

"I will try and stay ahead of him at the beginning but even if we don't, I'm confident we can get him back later on."

On the strategy: "I hope we have better pace than everyone so I hope we can drive away but the start is my best opportunity and everyone's best opportunity around here.

"It's not the easiest track to overtake on but it's also not impossible, but when you're so closely matched with your team-mate it also makes things even trickier.

"We will see and it's a little bit more limiting to options I could have because it is my team-mate, but not impossible so I will see what I can come up with."

Lorraine McKenna
BBC Sport Journalist in Zandvoort

Image source, BBC Sport

It’s a family day out at the Dutch Grand Prix for Hans, his son Paul and his grandson, the aptly named Little Max.

“I hope Max Verstappen will win but I think it will be either Oscar or Lando,” predicts Hans. “I think he can keep hold of the podium place,” adds Paul. “He’s made some good progress through the weekend but I think P3 will be the maximum available.”

Image source, BBC Sport

Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent in Zandvoort

The favoured strategy is expected to be a one-stop on the medium and hard tyres. This is influenced by the fact that overtaking is always difficult in Zandvoort, although the decision to raise the pit-lane speed limit to 80km/h from 60 this year opens up the appeal of a two-stop, which is in the running as an option.

Red Bull have saved a fresh set of softs for Max Verstappen. Could they be tempted to use them at the start to help launch past at least one of the McLarens? The complication is that while the soft has appeared to be a decent tyre, no one knows how long it will last. And Verstappen is so good on the first lap, he might be able to get at least one of the McLarens anyway.

If the McLarens get away one-two, they should be able to race on their own, but if Verstappen is in the mix, the world champions are wary of his potential to fight for the win, and they’re not ruling out George Russell or the Ferraris either. Charles Leclerc is very good in the sort of race this could be - a one-stop where careful management is required to make the stint lengths work best.

Pit loss is about 18 seconds under green-flag conditions, about 10 or so under safety car, and the DRS gives a lap-time advantage of 0.6-0.7secs for the car that has its benefit. The fact that the overtaking delta - the theoretical lap-time advantage needed to pass - is 0.9secs underlines the difficulty of overtaking.

To add to the intrigue, the possibility of rain increases as the race goes on.

Lorraine McKenna
BBC Sport Journalist in Zandvoort

Image source, BBC Sport

All aboard the Max Express. The trains from Sloterdijk station into Zandvoort are honouring home hero Verstappen as the Dutchman starts third on the grid behind the two McLarens.

The previous two days have been busy but you could get a seat. No such luck today, the fans are crammed in like sardines. And it’s warm again. Very warm.

Sunglasses, hats and a trip to the free sunscreen stations are definitely needed, with the forecast for lights out looking as good as it was for qualifying yesterday.