Lando Norris and McLaren kicked off the Dutch Grand Prix weekend by topping Free Practice 1, securing a commanding one-two finish with teammate Oscar Piastri. Norris set the fastest time of 1:10.278, nearly three-tenths clear of Piastri.
Why it matters
McLaren's strong showing immediately positions them as a formidable contender. Their pace on the Zandvoort circuit suggests a significant performance advantage early on, putting pressure on rivals, especially Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who finished sixth at his home race.
Key Details
- McLaren's Dominance: Norris's blistering lap was 0.292s faster than Piastri, with the pair comfortably ahead of the rest.
- Verstappen's Sixth: Home favorite Max Verstappen finished sixth, almost a second off. His session concluded with a minor incident, beaching his Red Bull in the Turn 1 gravel after the flag.
- Ferrari's Struggles: Charles Leclerc (14th) and Lewis Hamilton (15th) had a difficult session.
- Red Flag: Kimi Antonelli's early spin at Turn 9 brought out a red flag.
- Other Strong Performances: Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) were P3 and P4, while Alex Albon (Williams) impressed in P5.
Selected FP1 Results
| POS. | DRIVER | TEAM | TIME / GAP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:10.278 |
| 2 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +0.292s |
| 3 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | +0.501s |
| 4 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | +0.563s |
| 5 | Alexander Albon | Williams | +0.893s |
| 6 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing | +0.940s |
| 14 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +1.673s |
| 15 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | +1.682s |
| 20 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | +3.997s |
What's next
Free Practice 2 is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. local time, offering teams another chance to refine their setups.