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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.

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McLaren have completed only a handful of laps with Norris (3) and Piastri (2). Only Aston Martin has completed less.
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.
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!
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!
As the track begins to rubber in, green personal best and purple session best sectors are filling the timing screen!
Stopwatch
...before Verstappen goes over half-a-second faster yet again. A 1:14.360s is the new target.
Stopwatch
As expected, down comes the benchmark with Russell now putting in a 1:14.901s.
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
But already, there goes Max. Verstappen goes over 1.5s faster with his opening effort, to hit in a 1:15.393s.
Stopwatch
Magnussen sets the first time of the session with a 1:16.910s on the hard tyre.
One notable driver to keep an eye on this session is Robert Shwartzman, who has replaced Sainz for FP1.
Hard and medium tyres are on display this morning with the soft tyres being reserved for later.
Green flag
Here we go! FP1 is go as F1 returns to action!
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!
Three minutes to go until FP1 gets underway and the noise is building in the grandstands.
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/
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
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/
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/
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?
The opening session of the weekend will begin in half an hour with the sun currently beating down on the seaside circuit.
Good morning and welcome to Zandvoort for Friday at the Dutch Grand Prix.

By: Autosport Staff

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