Dutch Grand Prix Practice Session Report
Zandvoort, Netherlands – Lando Norris exhibited impressive speed in the opening practice session of the Dutch Grand Prix, clocking a session-best time of 1:10.278. The McLaren driver was the only competitor to record three purple sectors, showcasing his dominant form ahead of his teammate, Oscar Piastri, who finished the session 0.292 seconds behind after struggling with understeer.
Norris achieved his benchmark time on his first run with soft tires, while Piastri’s initial pace included the fastest first split but deteriorated during the latter sectors. A subsequent run on used softs saw Piastri close the gap but fail to threaten Norris’s time.
Session Highlights:
- Lando Norris (McLaren): 1:10.278
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren): 1:10.570
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin): 1:10.779 – Stroll faced interference from Yuki Tsunoda early in his lap but improved later, utilizing the evolving track conditions.
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin): 1:10.794 – Just 0.062 seconds adrift of Stroll, maintaining competitive pace.
- Alex Albon (Williams): 1:11.171 – Surprising performance, ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who struggled with pace.
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing): 1:11.218 – Ended the session in the gravel at Turn 1 after a practice start error.
Verstappen’s session was marked by a lock-up leading to his car being stuck in the run-off area after the checkered flag. His teammate George Russell experienced a similar trajectory but was able to continue, finishing 1.108s off the pace.
Ferrari’s performance proved disappointing, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton placing 14th and 15th, respectively, both nearly 1.7 seconds adrift of the McLaren benchmark. Leclerc radioed, “We are miles off,” reflecting the team’s struggles.
Key results from the session include:
- Carlos Sainz (Ferrari): 1:11.458
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber): 1:11.502
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine): 1:11.602
- Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri): 1:11.716
- Esteban Ocon (Haas): 1:11.909
Notable Incidents: Andrea Kimi Antonelli beached his car in the gravel at Turn 9, prompting a red flag, while several drivers—including Lawson and Hadjar—struggled to break into the top ten.
The next sessions will be critical as teams adapt to the Zandvoort circuit conditions, particularly with McLaren appearing as early frontrunners.
