The opening practice at Zandvoort set a brisk tone as George Russell led the way, edging Lewis Hamilton by a narrow margin for Britain in the Mercedes lineup. Carlos Sainz followed in third, with Max Verstappen’s home hopes briefly bright before a setback hit the Dutch driver early in the session. Verstappen’s Red Bull developed a gearbox issue, triggering a red flag and pausing the action as crew members inspected the car on track. The stoppage sparked immediate chatter among fans and teams alike, underscoring how fragile a practice day can be even for the sport’s top contenders. The mood shifted quickly from anticipation to concern as technicians worked to diagnose the fault and decide if the car would return to the track later in the session.
The scene across the pit lanes showed a blend of relief and tension. Verstappen stayed in the paddock while the team diagnosed the problem, and the track regained rhythm after the brief halt as the surface warmed and squads weighed tire strategy for the remainder of the session. The red flag underscored the intense scrutiny home crowds place on their star drivers, who are always under the magnifying glass in front of a stadium-like atmosphere at Zandvoort.
On track, Carlos Sainz briefly led the times before the field surged forward again, with soft compound tires ready to deliver faster laps. The Spaniard’s best mark, though short-lived in its dominance, signaled Ferrari’s continued competitiveness in the early weekend stages, even as teams prepared to push harder as the session progressed. The session brought a surge of energy as drivers tested line choices and throttle response through the banked sections that make Zandvoort a unique challenge for setup engineers.
Amid the buzz, Sergio Perez delivered a strong recovery sequence to steady his pace after the interruption, demonstrating the resilience demanded in practice where every minute counts and each corner can influence the balance for the weekend. A moment of drama for Perez circulated on social channels, capturing the emotional swing from crisis to confidence in the car’s response to setup changes.
As the clock moved toward the final minutes, the Mercedes duo of Russell and Hamilton raised their pace, narrowing the gap to Sainz and reshaping the order in the late stages. This late push from the British team injected a tense, competitive vibe among the top outfits, with Ferrari, Red Bull, and Alpine keeping close watch on evolving times. The results ended with Russell on top, followed by Hamilton and Sainz, as the field settled into a rhythm ahead of the next practice session. Commentary from teams and fans alike noted how momentum could swing again with new aero updates or a different tire strategy in the afternoon.
The full running order after the first hours reflected a blend of nationalities and team philosophies. Russell, Hamilton, Sainz, Norris, and Ricciardo occupied the first five places, illustrating Mercedes’ continued strength and Ferrari’s steady pace. Leclerc, Perez, Alonso, Ocon, and Albon filled the top ten, signaling a lively mix of contenders across the grid. The list included drivers from Britain, Spain, Australia, Monaco, France, and Thailand, highlighting the sport’s global reach and the diverse talent racing at the iconic Dutch circuit.
Listed results came with a mix of traditional names and rising talents, including Haas, Williams, Aston Martin, Alfa Romeo, AlphaTauri, and McLaren, all showing varying speeds that foreshadowed a weekend of strategic choices, tire management, and on-track battles. The day’s performances highlighted the value of practice sessions as teams tune setups, assess weather implications, and prepare for a race weekend that promises to be as unpredictable as it is thrilling. By the session’s end, teams and fans gained a clearer sense of who might shape the order as Friday progresses, and what adjustments could be necessary ahead of qualifying.
First free practice hours for the Dutch GP:
1. George Russell GBR Mercedes 1:12.455
2. Lewis Hamilton GBR Mercedes 1:12.695
3. Carlos Sainz ESP Ferrari 1:12.845
4. Lando Norris GBR McLaren 1:12.929
5. Daniel Ricciardo AUS McLaren 1:13.077
6. Charles Leclerc MON Ferrari 1:13.127
7. Sergio Perez MEX Red Bull 1:13.416
8. Fernando Alonso ESP Alpine 1:13.633
9. Esteban Ocon FRA Alpine 1:13.963
10. Alexander Albon THA Williams 1:14.063
11. Mick Schumacher GER Haas 1:14.163
12. Lance Stroll CAN Aston Martin 1:14.257
13. Kevin Magnussen DIN Haas 1:14.405
14. Pierre Gasly FRA Alpha Tauri 1:14.474
15. Sebastian Vettel GER Aston Martin 1:14.500
16. Zhou Guanyu CHN Alfa Romeo 1:14.534
17. Yuki Tsunoda JPN Alpha Tauri 1:14.630
18. Valtteri Bottas FIN Alfa Romeo 1:14.695
19. Max Verstappen NED Red Bull 1:14.714
20. Nicholas Latifi CAN Williams 1:15.122