Lando Norris topped a dramatic and incident-filled second practice session for the Dutch Grand Prix, but the headlines were dominated by crashes, technical issues, and a pit lane incident that led to two red flags and a virtual safety car. McLaren's Norris set a time of 1:09.890, narrowly beating Fernando Alonso and teammate Oscar Piastri.
Why it matters
The chaotic session severely limited track time for many teams, disrupting crucial preparations for qualifying and the race. The challenging conditions, combined with multiple stoppages, created an unpredictable start to the weekend, highlighting the Zandvoort circuit's unforgiving nature.
The incident-filled session
Light rain at the start set the tone for a disruptive FP2.
- Lance Stroll Crash: The Aston Martin driver suffered a heavy impact at Turn 3 after locking his front left wheel, causing the first red flag. Stroll emerged unharmed.
- Isack Hadjar's Power Issue: After the restart, Isack Hadjar's car came to a halt at Turn 8 with a power problem, triggering a Virtual Safety Car.
- Lewis Hamilton's Spin: The Mercedes driver spun out of Turn 9, adding to a challenging day following earlier struggles in FP1.
- Alex Albon's Red Flag: Alex Albon beached his Williams at Turn 1, bringing out a second red flag with 20 minutes remaining.
Pit Lane Drama
During the second red flag, Oscar Piastri was involved in a near-collision with George Russell in the pit lane. Piastri misjudged his entry with Russell close behind, an incident now under investigation by the stewards.
Key Standings
Despite the chaos, Norris's 1:09.890 put him P1. Fernando Alonso continued to impress, finishing P2, just 0.087s behind. Oscar Piastri was P3. George Russell recovered to P4, with Max Verstappen P5 and Lewis Hamilton P6. Ferrari showed improvement with Charles Leclerc P8, and Yuki Tsunoda secured P7. Franco Colapinto achieved a rare top-ten finish for Alpine in P9, ahead of Nico Hulkenberg.
Looking Ahead
Teams will return for FP3 on Saturday at 11:30 AM local time, hoping for a smoother session to finalize their setups before qualifying. The blustery conditions and early light showers suggest continued vigilance will be needed.