Norris Leads McLaren 1-2 in Zandvoort FP1; Ferrari and Verstappen Struggle

Lando Norris set the fastest time in the first free practice session for the Dutch Grand Prix, leading a McLaren 1-2. Aston Martin showed strong pace, while Ferrari and Max Verstappen faced challenges.### Why it mattersThe opening practice session often gives the first glimpse of teams' competitiveness after the summer break. McLaren's dominant start and Aston Martin's surprise performance suggest shifts in the pecking order, while the struggles of front-runners like Ferrari and Red Bull's Max Verstappen indicate potential difficulties for the weekend.### The details* McLaren's strong start: Lando Norris topped the session with a 1:10.278 on soft tyres, followed closely by teammate Oscar Piastri. Both drivers showcased strong pace on the tricky Zandvoort circuit.* Aston Martin's surprise: Lance Stroll secured an impressive third place, highlighting a strong showing for Aston Martin, with teammate Fernando Alonso also performing well.* Ferrari's struggles: Ferrari drivers were significantly off the pace, with a gap of 1.6 seconds to the front. Charles Leclerc expressed clear frustration over the radio, stating, "We are miles off."* Verstappen's P6: Home favourite Max Verstappen could only manage sixth position, finishing behind both Aston Martins, suggesting Red Bull has work to do.* On-track incidents: The session saw multiple yellow flags due to driver errors, including a spin for Lewis Hamilton and Yuki Tsunoda running wide. Andrea Antonelli's crash at Turn 3 resulted in a red flag, cutting his session short.### What's nextTeams will now analyze the data to fine-tune their setups for FP2 and qualifying. Ferrari and Red Bull will be particularly focused on understanding their performance deficit and finding solutions to improve their pace for the rest of the weekend.