The 2025 Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix kicked off with a dramatic first practice session at Zandvoort, where McLaren stamped its authority early. Lando Norris led the charge, clocking the fastest lap at 1:10.278, narrowly ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri, who trailed by just 0.292 seconds.
This McLaren 1–2 mirrored their pre-summer break performance in Hungary, signaling a strong resurgence in the championship battle. Norris, currently chasing Piastri’s slim nine-point lead, looks poised to tighten the gap with ten races remaining in the season.
Top Performers:
- 1st: Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1:10.278
- 2nd: Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +0.292s
- 3rd: Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – +0.501s
- 4th: Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – +0.563s
- 5th: Alex Albon (Williams) – +0.893s
- 6th: Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – nearly a second off the pace
Despite early promise on medium tires, Max Verstappen struggled to maintain momentum. His session ended in frustration after a lock-up at Turn 1 left him beached in the gravel trap following a practice start.
Other incidents included Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) sliding off at Turn 9 just ten minutes into the session, and minor off-track excursions by Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) and Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), both of whom recovered without major damage.
With the race scheduled for August 31 and 72 laps ahead, teams are now analyzing data from this session to refine strategies. The tight layout and technical demands of Zandvoort continue to challenge even the most seasoned drivers.
