Lando Norris continued his dominant form at the Dutch Grand Prix, topping the second practice session with a commanding performance on the Zandvoort circuit. His fastest lap held firm despite multiple interruptions, securing a strong start for McLaren.
Why it matters
McLaren's strong pace, led by Norris and Oscar Piastri, signals their potential this weekend. However, Aston Martin's promising form, highlighted by Fernando Alonso's second place, was overshadowed by Lance Stroll's heavy crash, which significantly disrupted the session.
The details
- Norris Leads: Lando Norris (McLaren) set the fastest time, followed by Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) and Oscar Piastri (McLaren).
- Stroll's Heavy Crash: Aston Martin's Lance Stroll suffered a significant crash at Turn 3's high banking early in the session, wrecking his car and triggering an immediate red flag.
- Multiple Disruptions: The session saw further interruptions, including Racing Bulls' Isack Hadjar stopping on track due to power loss (Virtual Safety Car) and Alex Albon outbraking himself at Turn 1, ending in the gravel (second red flag).
- Limited Runs: These stoppages restricted soft-tyre runs and qualifying simulations for many drivers, forcing a focus on longer stints with medium and hard compounds.
- Key Positions: Max Verstappen finished fifth for Red Bull, and Lewis Hamilton sixth for Mercedes, despite a spin. Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls) was seventh, Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) eighth, Franco Colapinto (Alpine) ninth, and Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) tenth.
What's next
Teams now face a challenging task to finalize their setups for Saturday's qualifying and Sprint sessions, given the limited data from disrupted practice. Max Verstappen remains a formidable threat on home soil, with Red Bull aiming to close the gap.