The Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort has kicked off with surprising results in the practice sessions, as Mercedes and McLaren outpaced championship leader Max Verstappen and his Red Bull team. George Russell of Mercedes set the fastest time of 1:10.702 in the second free practice session (FP2), followed closely by Oscar Piastri of McLaren and Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes.Verstappen, who has won all three races at Zandvoort since its return to the F1 calendar in 2021, found himself only fifth fastest in FP2, 0.284 seconds behind Russell. The Dutch driver admitted to struggling with car balance, stating, ‘We’re a bit too slow in the short runs and also in the simulation race, there’s a lot of work to be done. At the moment, there’s no immediate way to improve the situation, but we’ll take a closer look’.The unexpected performance shift has raised questions about Red Bull’s dominance, with McLaren now closing the gap in the constructors’ championship. However, analyst Ernest Knoors noted that Verstappen’s long runs looked promising, despite the team’s decision to run without DRS during practice.Weather conditions continue to add an extra layer of complexity to the race weekend. Strong winds affected the first practice session, and there’s a possibility of rain for Saturday’s qualifying. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner acknowledged the tight competition, saying, ‘It’s very close, and we don’t know the fuel load and engine settings, but I think it will be very tight tomorrow’.As teams prepare for qualifying, the battle at the front of the grid is expected to be extremely close. With changing weather conditions and strong performances from Mercedes and McLaren, the Dutch Grand Prix promises to be an exciting and unpredictable race weekend.
Key points
- Mercedes and McLaren outpaced Max Verstappen in Dutch GP practice sessions.
- Verstappen struggled with car balance, finishing fifth in FP2.
- Weather conditions and potential rain add uncertainty to qualifying and race prospects.
- Red Bull acknowledges tight competition from other teams.
Contradictions👾While most sources indicate Verstappen struggled in practice, analyst Ernest Knoors suggested his long runs looked promising.
