Source – Racingnews365
During the first practice session of the Dutch Grand Prix weekend, Lando Norris set the pace. The McLaren driver won the hour-long session, which saw the track conditions change due to early showers.
The second half of the Formula 1 season kicked off in Zandvoort under challenging conditions, setting the stage for an intriguing weekend. Four weeks after the last pre-summer break race in Belgium, the teams returned to action with the first practice session, where wet and windy weather greeted them as the lights went green at 12:30 local time. The adverse conditions meant that drivers were in no rush to leave the pit lane, and the session began at a cautious pace.
Pierre Gasly was the first to brave the treacherous track, venturing out on wet-weather tires in his Alpine. The Frenchman’s appearance on the circuit came just hours after it was confirmed that his current reserve teammate, Jack Doohan, would be joining him as a full-time driver in 2025. Gasly’s initial assessment of the conditions was a straightforward “pretty wild,” a sentiment that would soon be echoed by others.
Nico Hulkenberg quickly found out just how challenging the track was when he locked up and sent his Haas skidding across the gravel, narrowly managing to rejoin the circuit. It was a reminder that even the most experienced drivers needed to tread carefully. Robert Shwartzman, driving in place of Valtteri Bottas for Kick Sauber, also took to the track early, experiencing firsthand the demanding conditions in what was a valuable learning opportunity for the rookie.
Although the rain subsided about 10 minutes into the session, the wind and standing water continued to pose significant challenges. Hulkenberg, still wrestling with the handling of his VF-24, ran off the circuit once again, while others struggled to maintain grip as they pushed the limits. The evolving track conditions created an unpredictable environment, with spray still being kicked up as drivers navigated the tricky surface.
Max Verstappen, the home favorite, was one of the first to switch to intermediate tires, but even the Dutchman wasn’t immune to the challenges. A spin briefly brought out the yellow flags, but Verstappen managed to avoid any damage and quickly regained his composure. He soon found himself atop the timesheets, only to be edged out by George Russell, who also opted for intermediates.
As the track continued to dry, drivers began to push harder, resulting in more off-track excursions as they tested the boundaries. In the final 10 minutes, several drivers took a gamble by switching to slick tires, hoping to capitalize on the improving conditions. Lando Norris was among those who made the switch and immediately went fastest, clocking a lap three seconds quicker than his previous effort on intermediate rubber.
Norris’s time at the top, however, was short-lived. As more drivers transitioned to slicks, the times rapidly tumbled, with a flurry of laps coming in as the session drew to a close. The Briton eventually reclaimed the top spot with a lap time of 1m 12.322s on soft tires, putting him 0.201s clear of Verstappen’s Red Bull. It was a strong showing from Norris, who continued to build on his momentum from earlier in the season.
Lewis Hamilton secured the third-fastest time for Mercedes, demonstrating his ability to adapt to the changing conditions. Carlos Sainz slotted into fourth after running the medium tire on his Ferrari, while Russell rounded out the top five. Alex Albon delivered an eye-catching performance for Williams, taking sixth, while Oscar Piastri placed seventh for McLaren, further underlining the team’s competitiveness.
The Haas duo of Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen finished in eighth and ninth respectively, with Zhou Guanyu rounding out the top 10 for Kick Sauber. Zhou’s performance placed him ahead of Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, Yuki Tsunoda in the RB, and Fernando Alonso in the other Aston Martin, who completed the session from P11 to P15.
Robert Shwartzman ended his session for Kick Sauber in P16, ahead of Williams’ Logan Sargeant in P17, and the Alpine of Esteban Ocon in P18. Daniel Ricciardo, still getting to grips with his RB, finished 19th, while Gasly, despite his early start, brought up the rear in 20th place.
With the first practice session now in the books, teams and drivers will have time to debrief and adjust their strategies before returning to the track for the second practice session at 16:00 local time. The unpredictable weather has already set the tone for what promises to be an exciting weekend of racing in Zandvoort.
