Aston Martin showed surprising speed on the first day of the Dutch Grand Prix, with Fernando Alonso appearing to be McLaren's Lando Norris' closest rival. This was despite challenging conditions at Zandvoort, including wind and a low-grip surface.
Why it matters
McLaren, led by Lando Norris, dominated both practice sessions. However, Aston Martin's strong showing, particularly from Fernando Alonso, suggests a new competitive dynamic. They appear to be positioning themselves as a significant contender, potentially ahead of Ferrari and Mercedes.
The big picture
- Lando Norris was comfortably fastest on both single laps and long runs, though his teammate Oscar Piastri struggled to match his pace.
- Aston Martin experimented with a new floor, displaying strong performance. Fernando Alonso clocked impressive times, while Lance Stroll's session ended early after a heavy crash.
- Red Bull's Max Verstappen worked on front ride height and torsion bars, progressively improving the car's balance throughout the day.
- Mercedes' George Russell found better balance in FP2 after initial oversteering issues, showing respectable long-run pace on hard tires.
- Ferrari, after a conservative FP1, lowered its ride height in FP2 and closed the gap, though Lewis Hamilton was still nearly a second off Norris.
The details
Zandvoort's high downforce sensitivity (third highest on the calendar) seems to suit Aston Martin's current car evolution, similar to their performance in Hungary.
What's next
Despite a forecast for rain, a dry race might not guarantee a two-stop strategy, even with softer tire compounds. Zandvoort's difficulty for overtakes means a one-stop strategy could become dominant if enough teams commit to it, as Carlos Sainz noted.