Norris Shines in Dutch Grand Prix Practice
Lando Norris set a strong pace during the first practice session of the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, while Max Verstappen had an unfortunate incident with his Red Bull.
Norris is just nine points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri, having won three out of the last four races before the summer break, and he continued his momentum from Hungary.
The British driver clocked an impressive time of 1:10.278, finishing 0.292 seconds ahead of Piastri, with the McLaren pair significantly faster than the rest of the pack as F1 returns.
Norris looked comfortable with his car’s balance, reminiscent of his dominance at last year’s Dutch Grand Prix. The entire field aimed to maximize their laps on medium and soft tires, anticipating heavy rain for the second practice later that day at 3 PM UK time, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1.
Sky Sports F1 analyst Karun Chandhok remarked on Piastri’s struggle, saying, “It didn’t look hooked up for Oscar, he didn’t have the front end he wanted.” He also noted that Norris’s time is a significant benchmark for McLaren, signaling a warning to their competitors.
Verstappen Struggles
Home favorite Verstappen ended up sixth, nearly a second behind Norris, and got stuck in the gravel after the session concluded. He initially had a standard practice start but inadvertently went straight into the first corner, causing his rear tires to become trapped.
Other Notable Performances
Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli also faced challenges, locking up at Turn 9 and causing a red flag just 12 minutes into the session. Lewis Hamilton expressed a desire to enjoy the final ten rounds of the season, following a rocky start at Ferrari but struggled from the outset, experiencing a noteworthy spin at Turn 3.
Ferrari teammates Hamilton and Charles Leclerc struggled for pace, ending up in 14th and 15th positions. 1997 F1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve commented, “Ferrari look slow. You cannot just think your normal set-up will work here on this track.”
Aston Martin’s Surprise
Aston Martin drivers Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso unexpectedly secured third and fourth positions, trailing Norris by only half a second, while Williams’ Alex Albon rounded out the top five. George Russell, seeking to finalize his contract discussions with Mercedes, was seventh behind Verstappen.
Dutch GP Practice One Timesheet
| Driver | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1) Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:10.278 |
| 2) Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +0.292 |
| 3) Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | +0.501 |
| 4) Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | +0.563 |
| 5) Alex Albon | Williams | +0.893 |
| 6) Max Verstappen | Red Bull | +0.940 |
| 7) George Russell | Mercedes | +1.108 |
| 8) Carlos Sainz | Williams | +1.180 |
| 9) Gabriel Bortoleto | Sauber | +1.231 |
| 10) Pierre Gasly | Alpine | +1.335 |
Looking Ahead
Schedule for Dutch GP
Friday, August 29
1:30 PM: Team Principals’ Press Conference
2:45 PM: Dutch Grand Prix Practice Two (session starts at 3 PM)*
4:25 PM: F1 Academy Practice 2
5:20 PM: The F1 Show
Saturday, August 30
9:20 AM: F1 Academy Qualifying
10:05 AM: Dutch Grand Prix Practice Three (session starts at 10:30 AM)*
1 PM: Dutch Grand Prix Qualifying Build-Up
2 PM: DUTCH GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING
4 PM: F1 Academy Race 1
Sunday, August 31
9:35 AM: F1 Academy Race 2
10:50 AM: Porsche Supercup Race
12:30 PM: Grand Prix Sunday: Dutch GP Build-Up
2 PM: THE DUTCH GRAND PRIX
4 PM: Chequered Flag: Dutch GP Reaction
*Also on Sky Sports Main Event
F1 returns from the summer break this weekend with the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, live on Sky Sports F1.
