Verstappen on course to equal Vettel's record of nine consecutive season wins on Sunday

Max Verstappen shrugged off a storm to top an action-packed third practice at his home Dutch Grand Prix on Saturday.

Red Bull's double world champion coped best with a Zandvoort circuit hit by heavy rain forcing his thousands of fans to don their plastic ponchos.

Verstappen, 25, seeking to match Sebastian Vettel's record of nine consecutive wins on Sunday, was just under fourth tenths of a second quicker than George Russell for Mercedes, with Sergio Perez in the other Red Bull in third.

“It was a very tricky qualifying starting of course on the intermediates but of course the track surface is quite slippery with the new tarmac, so it was all about putting your laps in and staying out of trouble," said Verstappen, after a third successive pole position.

"I think we managed that quite well but also the end when we could go onto the slick tyres there was one dry line in some places and we had to risk it a bit but the last lap was very enjoyable.”

Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin, and Lewis Hamilton in the other Mercedes completed the top five.

McLaren's Lando Norris, who had bettered Verstappen in Friday second practice, came in 10th, one place behind Charles Leclerc, the fastest of the two Ferraris.

The storm had eased off before third practice got underway but showers and squally conditions returned, rendering the unforgiving seaside track even more treacherous.

The final session before qualifying later was only a handful of minutes old before the fourth red flag of the weekend came out.

And it was the troublesome turn three that was the centre of attention again as Kevin Magnussen spun his Haas on an 'out lap' at the same spot where Daniel Ricciardo broke his hand on Friday.

The well-positioned crane, already called into action to remove the cars of Ricciardo, Oscar Piastri and Nico Hulkenberg on Friday, extricated Magnussen's stricken vehicle with the action resuming.

It didn't last long though with Zhou Guanyu the next driver to stop the session, his Alfa Romeo coming to rest in safety gravel at turn 13.

"I'm beached guys, it as really wet there," the Chinese driver told his team.

• Sports