REPORT: Norris Tops First at Dutch Grand Prix,Vesterppen,Hamilton

Norris Tops First Practice Session at Dutch Grand Prix Amid Mixed Conditions

The Dutch Grand Prix weekend got off to a thrilling start as Lando Norris emerged as the fastest driver during the first practice session (FP1) at Zandvoort. The session, marked by mixed weather conditions, saw the McLaren driver outpace Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton in a dramatic hour of changing track dynamics.

After a four-week summer break following the Belgian Grand Prix, the Formula 1 paddock returned to action at a wet and windy Zandvoort circuit. The session began at 12:30 PM local time, with drivers facing challenging conditions as the track was still damp from earlier rainfall. Given the tricky circumstances, there was no immediate rush for the cars to leave the pit lane.

Pierre Gasly was the first to venture out on track, opting for wet weather tires on his Alpine. His early lap times were more of an exploration rather than a push for performance, as he familiarized himself with the slippery surface. Gasly’s efforts came just hours after it was announced that his teammate for the 2025 season would be Jack Doohan, the team’s current reserve driver.

However, the conditions quickly proved treacherous, as Nico Hulkenberg experienced firsthand when he locked up and skidded across the gravel in his Haas. The German driver managed to rejoin the circuit, but it was clear that the wet and windy weather would demand caution and precision from all drivers.

As the session progressed, the rain ceased after about 10 minutes, but the circuit remained wet in several areas. Drivers like Robert Shwartzman, who was running in place of Valtteri Bottas in the Kick Sauber, found the conditions challenging as they grappled with standing water and gusty winds. Hulkenberg, continuing to struggle, ran off track once more, while several other drivers kicked up spray as they navigated the evolving track surface.

Max Verstappen, the local favorite, had a moment of his own when he spun while testing the intermediate tires. The incident briefly brought out the yellow flags, but the reigning world champion quickly recovered and set the fastest time of the session on the intermediate rubber. However, he was soon surpassed by George Russell, who also opted for intermediates.

As the track began to dry out towards the final 10 minutes of the session, several drivers switched to slick tires, hoping to capitalize on the improving conditions. Among them was Norris, who immediately set the fastest lap, shaving three seconds off his previous best on the intermediate tires.

Norris’s stint at the top of the timesheets was short-lived as the rapidly improving track allowed for further time reductions. Yet, the McLaren driver regained P1 with a time of 1:12.322 on the soft tire, ultimately finishing 0.201 seconds ahead of Verstappen.

Lewis Hamilton secured the third-fastest time for Mercedes, showing strong pace as he continues his push to challenge the front runners. Carlos Sainz, running on medium tires, slotted into fourth place for Ferrari, just ahead of his teammate George Russell, who finished fifth.

Williams’ Alex Albon delivered an impressive performance to secure sixth place, closely followed by Oscar Piastri in the second McLaren. The Haas duo of Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen claimed eighth and ninth positions, while Zhou Guanyu rounded out the top ten for Kick Sauber.

Further down the order, Lance Stroll took 11th for Aston Martin, with Sergio Perez in 12th for Red Bull. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, Yuki Tsunoda in the RB, and Fernando Alonso in the Aston Martin completed the top 15.

Robert Shwartzman concluded his practice session in 16th, ahead of Logan Sargeant in 17th for Williams and Esteban Ocon in 18th for Alpine. Daniel Ricciardo placed 19th for RB, while Gasly, who led the session early, ended up in 20th place.

As the teams head back to their garages to analyze the data from this intriguing session, they will prepare for the second practice at 4:00 PM local time, hoping for more consistent conditions to further refine their setups for the weekend.