Dutch GP - Free Practice

Hello @Stratastic
Aug 24, 2024
3 min read

Updated: Jan 30, 2025

F1 cars on track with an overlay of the Dutch GP circuit outline.

Heineken Dutch GP

Free Practice 1

August 23, 2024

Lando Norris of McLaren showcased impressive form in the wet and windy opening practice session at the Dutch Grand Prix, narrowly outpacing local favorite Max Verstappen.

On a drying Zandvoort track, Norris clocked a best time of 1:12.322, edging Verstappen by 0.201 seconds. Verstappen briefly led the session before Norris reclaimed the top spot, signaling McLaren's upgraded car is a force to be reckoned with.

Verstappen, aiming for a fourth consecutive home win at Zandvoort, experienced a spin but avoided incident. With 78 points separating the Red Bull star and Norris in the standings, Sunday marks a milestone for Verstappen as he makes his 200th F1 start.

Behind Norris and Verstappen, Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton posted the third-fastest time, 0.684 seconds off the pace, followed by Ferrari's Carlos Sainz in fourth.

George Russell, Alex Albon, and McLaren rookie Oscar Piastri rounded out the top seven. The session, which began with only three timed laps due to rain, gained momentum as conditions improved, setting the stage for an exciting weekend.

Free Practice 2

August 23, 2024

Mercedes and McLaren were the top performers in the Dutch Grand Prix practice sessions, overshadowing Max Verstappen's performance in front of his home crowd.

George Russell of Mercedes set the fastest time in the second session, while Lando Norris of McLaren led the opening session.

In the late afternoon session, McLaren's Oscar Piastri came second, followed by Lewis Hamilton and Norris.

Verstappen, the current championship leader, faced a challenging practice session, finishing fifth behind Russell.

McLaren has introduced upgrades for the second half of the season, but Mercedes' recent victories indicate a strong performance ahead.

Verstappen, who has dominated races at Zandvoort, is on a losing streak and is expected to face tough competition on Sunday.

Despite a slower time than Russell, Verstappen remains ahead of Norris in the championship standings.

The practice sessions saw changing track conditions, with Sauber's Robert Shwartzman replacing Valtteri Bottas and finishing 16th in the first session.

Free Practice 3

August 24, 2024

Logan Sargeant's fiery crash brings Dutch GP final practice to a stop

The final practice session for the Dutch Formula One Grand Prix came to a halt on Saturday when Logan Sargeant's Williams car crashed and burst into flames. Fortunately, the American driver managed to escape from the wreck unharmed.

"I'm okay," After running a wheel onto the wet grass, the driver lost control at turn three, spun into the barriers, and ended up with a damaged car in the middle of the track at Zandvoort circuit by the sea, as reported over the radio.

The 23-year-old driver, who has not scored any points this year and has already lost his seat for 2025, was taken to the medical center for precautionary checks.

Although marshals extinguished the flames, the damage appeared significant, and the Williams mechanics are likely to face challenges in rebuilding it in time for the 1500 local qualifying session.

Red flags were raised after 14 minutes, with Dutch fans eagerly waiting for Max Verstappen, the home hero and championship leader for Red Bull, to take a lap in the grandstands filled with the Orange Army despite the damp conditions.

The session eventually resumed with a minute left of the scheduled hour, as drivers queued up to go out for timed laps on intermediate tires through the spray.

Verstappen passed a McLaren and a Mercedes in the pitlane, crossing the white line in his haste to exit, resulting in a black-and-white warning flag for not following the race director's instructions.

In the inconsequential session, Alpine's Pierre Gasly set the fastest lap, followed by Haas's Kevin Magnussen and Sauber's Valtteri Bottas.

Williams confirmed that Sargeant's car, which was taken back to the garage for repairs to the barriers, had received the same upgrade package as his teammate Alex Albon.

"Hundreds of hours are spent on making things. The worst time is when you have just introduced some bits and you put it into the wall," James Vowles, the principal of Williams.

"Qualifying will be upon us pretty quickly but the car is in a pretty bad state.

"The first step of it is we will go through in detail what's been damaged. It looks pretty serious and that could result in a chassis change."