Home F1 Dutch GP: Verstappen sets pace in FP1 from Alonso, Hamilton

Dutch GP, Max Verstappen — ZANDVOORT, NETHERLANDS - AUGUST 25: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB19 on track during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of The Netherlands at Circuit Zandvoort on August 25, 2023 in Zandvoort, Netherlands. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202308250330 // Usage for editorial use only //

Dutch GP: Verstappen sets pace in FP1 from Alonso, Hamilton

25/08/2023

Max Verstappen set the pace upon F1 return in FP1 of Dutch GP from Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton after quick laps post red flag.

The F1 action was back with the FP1 session in Dutch GP at Zandvoort after the summer break. It was Red Bull’s Max Verstappen on top with a 1m11.852s lap after a red flag stoppage for Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg who went off at Turn 13.

He lost control and beached himself on the gravel trap. The late laps from Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton put them in second and third. The Spaniard also had a moment at Turn 12 earlier in the session when he ran through the gravel.

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez was fourth after his quick lap before the red flag along with Williams’ Alexander Albon in fifth. McLaren’s Lando Norris stepped up late in the session to be sixth and push the other Williams of Logan Sargeant in seventh.

The Brit took a lot of laps to set his best time after the team devoted much of the session to gather data with him and also Oscar Piastri, who ended up eighth. AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda was ninth with Alpine’s Esteban Ocon rounding the Top 10.

Mercedes’ George Russell was only 11th after his quick lap was held up in traffic, while Alpine’s Pierre Gasly was 12th from AlphaTauri’s Daniel Ricciardo, Haas’ Kevin Magnussen in 14th and Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas in the Top 15.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc slotted in 16th after he did not do a run on the soft compound, with Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu in 17th from Hulkenberg and Ferrari’s Robert Shwartzman, who had his FP1 chance as per the rookie rule in place of Carlos Sainz.

The Russian too did not do a soft tyre run along with Alfa Romeo pair, as replays showed a moment at Turn 12 for Verstappen after the end of the session. There was no time set by Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, who seemingly had a power unit trouble.