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Formula 1 Dutch GP

F1 Dutch GP Live Commentary and Updates - FP1 & FP2

Friday's action from the 13th round of the 2023 Formula 1 season

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB18

Formula 1 returns from its summer slumber with the Dutch Grand Prix as Max Verstappen looks to extend his personal eight-race winning streak and continue Red Bull's 100% record for the season.

Verstappen arrives at Zandvoort for his home event with a 125-point championship lead over team-mate Sergio Perez. 

After Aston Martin, Mercedes, McLaren and Ferrari have all taken turns in providing the main threat to Red Bull, a major talking point will be which of this number gets off to the strongest start in the Netherlands. 

FP1 begins on Friday at 11:30 BST with FP2 following at 15:00 BST.

Live Standings

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Summary

  • Summary: 
    • Norris leads Verstappen in Dutch GP FP2
    • Session briefly stopped after Piastri and Ricciardo crash
    • Max Verstappen led first practice for Formula 1's Dutch Grand Prix
  • Leaderboard:
    1. Norris, McLaren
    2. Verstappen, Red Bull
    3. Albon, Williams
    4. Hamilton, Mercedes
    5. Tsunoda, AlphaTauri
    6. Gasly, AlphaTauri
    7. Perez, Red Bull
    8. Stroll, Aston Martin
    9. Bottas, Alfa Romeo
    10. Alonso, Aston Martin

Live Text

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Good morning and welcome to Zandvoort for Friday at the Dutch Grand Prix.
The opening session of the weekend will begin in half an hour with the sun currently beating down on the seaside circuit.
It's been a long summer without any racing action, so what did some of the drivers have to say when facing the media on Thursday?
Breaking news
Mercedes has endured a difficult season to this point with the race wins and championship titles of recent times having dried up. But Hamilton is presenting a confident of a return to form in the near future - 

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/hamilton-biding-my-time-in-wait-for-quicker-f1-mercedes/10510997/
Breaking news
Despite falling short of Red Bull, Russell believes it is wrong to describe Mercedes' season as a "failure" - 

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/russell-people-are-wrong-to-call-2023-f1-season-a-failure-for-mercedes/10510922/
While we mentioned earlier that the sun is shining, this is not expected to be the case for the entire weekend, with thunderstorms and rain predicted to hit on both Saturday and Sunday. The dry running today, it seems, will more serve to verify the numerous updates across the grid.
Breaking news
Haas began the weekend by confirming its 2024 driver plans, with Hulkenberg and Magnussen retained for another year - the team deciding that hiring rookies instead would be 'too risky' 

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/steiner-haas-didnt-consider-other-f1-drivers-rookies-too-risky/10511017/
Three minutes to go until FP1 gets underway and the noise is building in the grandstands.
There is only one colour is appears to be permissible to wear at Zandvoort, and that is orange! A smattering of other colours are on display, but they are few and far between!
Green flag
Here we go! FP1 is go as F1 returns to action!
Hard and medium tyres are on display this morning with the soft tyres being reserved for later.
One notable driver to keep an eye on this session is Robert Shwartzman, who has replaced Sainz for FP1.
Stopwatch
Magnussen sets the first time of the session with a 1:16.910s on the hard tyre.
Stopwatch
But already, there goes Max. Verstappen goes over 1.5s faster with his opening effort, to hit in a 1:15.393s.
It should be noted that, despite this impressive early pace, Verstappen's effort is five-seconds shy of last year's pole time. But on hard tyres and a dirty track, it's still a mighty time!
Stopwatch
As expected, down comes the benchmark with Russell now putting in a 1:14.901s.
Stopwatch
...before Verstappen goes over half-a-second faster yet again. A 1:14.360s is the new target.
As the track begins to rubber in, green personal best and purple session best sectors are filling the timing screen!
In housekeeping, the official risk of rain for FP1 is 30%. No one is rushing to ready the wet weather compounds with the sun bright in the sky right now!
Stopwatch
There is track evolution and then there is track evolution. Verstappen lowers the bar by another second, to a 1:13.275s. Hamilton is second after briefly topping the order. He's 0.6s back!
We're now beginning to hit the lull between runs with drivers returning to the pit lane after reporting initial feedback on the set up and upgraded parts.
McLaren have completed only a handful of laps with Norris (3) and Piastri (2). Only Aston Martin has completed less.
Hulkenberg has asked Haas to check the front-right corner after making heavy contact with a kerb. He returns to the garage and a brief inspection takes place. Although all seems well, he climbs out of the car.
Williams has often shown strong pace on Fridays this season and today is no different. Sargeant and Albon have returned to the garage after setting the fifth and seventh-fastest times.
Bottas leaps up to P3 on a relatively quiet track, with only Ricciardo and Magnussen for company. He's six-tenths off Verstappen but only 0.028s behind Hamilton.
After fitting fresh tyres, here come the rest of the field back onto the track.
After a very, very slow start to the day, Stroll has finally taken to the track. He missed the media day through illness before also missing the opening 20 minutes of this session.
Quote
Horrible news for Stroll as Aston Martin instruct him to "box" with an issue. The car does not sound healthy at all!
Stroll completed two laps without setting a time before returning to the garage.
In further bad news for Aston Martin, the timing screen has indicated that Alonso went off the track at Turn 12 and continued. He too has returned to the garage.
Zandvoort has never been the strongest of tracks for McLaren, and the early signs point to another difficult experience. Piastri is the fastest of the pair in P14.
Stopwatch
Here comes some soft tyre running. Sargeant is the first to put in an effort on the compound and goes to the top with a 1:12.814s.
Perez, Gasly and Albon have also bolted on the fresh, soft rubber.
Stopwatch
Astonishingly, Perez tops the order but only by 0.007s from Williams driver Albon. 1:12.439s is the target.
Verstappen has returned to the track but is again on the hard tyres.
Norris returns to the track after a lengthy stay in the garage. He has completed only nine laps so far.
Stopwatch
An improved time from Perez on his second flying lap with a 1:12.323s.

By: Autosport Staff

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