Lando Norris delivered a commanding performance in the opening practice session for the Dutch Grand Prix, setting a significant benchmark at Zandvoort. His dominant showing puts him in a strong position to reduce the nine-point gap to McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri in the drivers' championship battle.
Why it matters:
Norris has won three of the last four races, building strong momentum since an incident with Piastri in Canada. His FP1 performance suggests he's in excellent form, while Lewis Hamilton's continued struggles highlight a concerning trend for the seven-time champion.
The details:
- Norris's Pace: Lando Norris clocked a leading time of 1:10.278s on soft tyres, a mere six-tenths slower than his pole lap from last year, despite softer Pirelli rubber this season. Oscar Piastri was 0.292s behind.
- Hamilton's Woes: Lewis Hamilton, seeking a reset after labeling himself "useless" in Hungary, endured an early spin in his Ferrari and finished a disappointing 15th, 1.682s off Norris's pace.
- Verstappen's Moment: Max Verstappen, to the dismay of home fans, went too deep into Turn 1 during practice starts at the session's end, locking up and driving through the gravel. He finished 6th overall.
- Red Flags & Incidents: The session saw a red flag after spins from Hamilton, Yuki Tsunoda, and Kimi Antonelli, whose car was beached in gravel at Turn 8 due to oversteer. Antonelli completed only six laps.
- Other Notables: Lance Stroll was "best of the rest" in third, half a second adrift. Charles Leclerc was 14th, indicating Ferrari's struggles at the circuit.
What's next:
With heavy rain forecast for FP2, the data gathered in FP1 will be crucial. Teams capitalized on the dry conditions for long runs on soft tyres, knowing further track time might be limited. Antonelli's limited running could prove disastrous for his weekend.