Norris stays ahead as Alonso surges in second Dutch GP practice

Dutch Grand Prix: Practice Session Two Results

Zandvoort, Netherlands – Lando Norris claimed the fastest lap in a disrupted second practice session for the Dutch Grand Prix, clocking a time of 1:09.89, a notable improvement of 0.4 seconds from his FP1 performance. Norris’s lap, while fast enough to secure the top position, only edged out Fernando Alonso by 0.087 seconds, illustrating a tight battle at the front.

Aston Martin’s Alonso showcased impressive pace, leveraging a strong slipstream to split the McLaren drivers, marking his resurgence in competitive form. Championship leader Oscar Piastri was close behind in third, only 0.089 seconds off Norris after encountering slow traffic in the final sector. Piastri will face scrutiny from the stewards following a near miss in the pit lane with George Russell, who ultimately finished fourth, 0.384 seconds off the pace.

Max Verstappen, racing in front of a home crowd, secured fifth but was 0.588 seconds slower than Norris, indicating underlying concerns about the Red Bull car’s performance. Lewis Hamilton, after a challenging FP1, bounced back to sixth place despite a spin early in the session that disrupted his initial flying lap.

Yuki Tsunoda, in seventh, improved from 16th, while Charles Leclerc rounded out the top eight for Ferrari. Franco Colapinto led the Alpine team in ninth, with Nico Hulkenberg completing the top ten for Sauber.

Noteworthy incidents included Lance Stroll’s crash into the barrier at Turn 3, triggering the session’s first red flag. His car suffered significant damage, but he emerged unscathed. Alex Albon’s session ended prematurely after he beached his car in gravel, leading to the second red flag.

Pierre Gasly struggled, finishing 19th and last after setbacks limited his track time.

Results Summary: