The opening day of the Dutch Grand Prix delivered a mix of harsh assessments and unexpected performances, setting the stage for an intense race weekend.
Why it matters:
Top F1 figures and team performances are under scrutiny, with critical judgments on driver-team dynamics and surprising shifts in team competitiveness shaping the narrative ahead of qualifying.
Hamilton's Ferrari Struggle
F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve delivered a brutal assessment of Lewis Hamilton's tenure at Ferrari, suggesting a complete lack of chemistry. Villeneuve claims Hamilton appears disengaged, operating on a "different planet" from his engineer, leading to "zero chemistry" between the seven-time champion and the Scuderia. This critical view highlights the deep-seated issues Ferrari may be facing with its star driver.
Colapinto's Alpine Future at Risk
Franco Colapinto's position with the アルピーヌ F1 team is reportedly in jeopardy following strong criticism from Flavio Briatore. Colapinto, who joined from Williams as a reserve and replaced Jack Doohan after Miami, has struggled to match teammate ピエール・ガスリー's performance. This puts his F1 aspirations under a significant cloud.
Dutch GP First Day Surprises
- McLaren's Pace with Aston Martin Threat: ランド ノリス topped both Friday sessions at ザントフォールト. However, Aston Martin, with ランス ストロール and フェルナンド アロンソ, surprisingly placed in the top three in respective sessions, indicating a strong challenge.
- Alonso's Warning to Rivals: フェルナンド アロンソ declared Aston Martin a contender at ザントフォールト, placing メルセデス, フェラーリ, and レッドブル on alert. He notably split ランド ノリス and オスカー ピアストリ in FP2.
- Leclerc's Ferrari Alarm: シャルル ルクレール described Ferrari's Friday performance as a "wake-up call" after low positions in both practice sessions. He finished 14th in FP1 and 8th in FP2, with ハミルトン not far ahead.
- Max Verstappen's Red Bull Concern: マックス フェルスタッペン warned his home crowd of an "underlying problem" with his レッドブル, which could hinder his chances. He was over half a second slower than ランド ノリス in FP2's qualifying simulations, finishing 6th and 5th respectively.
What's next:
Teams will be working overnight to address issues and optimize setups for Saturday's crucial qualifying sessions, which will determine grid positions for Sunday's main race. All eyes will be on whether Ferrari can recover, if Aston Martin can maintain its surprising pace, and if レッドブル can solve its "underlying problem" to give マックス フェルスタッペン a strong home performance.