Lando Norris of McLaren dominated a highly eventful Free Practice 2 at the Dutch Grand Prix, securing the fastest lap time despite a session marred by multiple disruptions. His performance, following a strong showing in FP1, positions McLaren as a strong contender heading into the weekend.
Why it matters
Norris's consistent speed across both practice sessions underscores McLaren's potential at Zandvoort, a circuit known for its challenging curves. The numerous incidents during FP2 also highlight the demanding nature of the track and the pressure on drivers as they push for pace.
The details
- Norris posted a 1:09.890, just 0.087s ahead of Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso, with McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri a mere 0.089s off Norris's pace, completing a strong showing for the Woking team.
- The session was twice interrupted by red flags: Lance Stroll crashed at Turn 3, and Alex Albon beached his Williams at Turn 1.
- Further incidents included Isack Hadjar stopping on track with a power issue, leading to a Virtual Safety Car, and Lewis Hamilton spinning at Turn 9.
- A near-collision between Oscar Piastri and George Russell in the pitlane prompted a stewards' investigation, adding to the session's drama.
- George Russell finished fourth, followed by Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. Ferrari showed improved pace with Charles Leclerc in eighth, while Yuki Tsunoda secured seventh. Franco Colapinto delivered a notable ninth for Alpine, ahead of Nico Hülkenberg.
Top 10 Results
| POS. | DRIVER | TEAM | TIME / GAP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 01:09.890 |
| 2 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | +0.087s |
| 3 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +0.089s |
| 4 | George Russell | Mercedes | +0.384s |
| 5 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing | +0.588s |
| 6 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | +0.848s |
| 7 | Yuki Tsunoda | Racing Bulls | +0.905s |
| 8 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +0.944s |
| 9 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine | +1.067s |
| 10 | Nico Hülkenberg | Kick Sauber | +1.190s |
What's next
Free Practice 3 is scheduled for Saturday at 11:30 a.m. local time, setting the stage for qualifying later in the day.