The first day of action at the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix offered a clear headline: McLaren look sharp, but the chasing pack is closer than they might like. Lando Norris ended both practice sessions on top, while chaos behind him – from heavy crashes to gravel-trap mishaps – ensured no team enjoyed a completely smooth start at Zandvoort.
McLaren: The Benchmark but Under Pressure
Lando Norris wasted little time in laying down a marker. A strong 1:10.278 in FP1 and an even sharper 1:09.890 in FP2 confirmed McLaren as the team to beat. Yet, Oscar Piastri was not far behind. The Australian shadowed his teammate all day, leaving the papaya team with a perfect one-two in FP1 and another top-three showing in FP2. Despite Norris’ authority, the gaps were slim – and the team know Aston Martin are waiting to pounce.
Team boss Andrea Stella praised the progress but warned against complacency, noting the closeness of the field and the need to squeeze every ounce of performance before qualifying.
Aston Martin: Alonso Shines, Stroll Stumbles
If McLaren set the tone, Aston Martin provided the biggest challenge. Lance Stroll stunned in FP1 with third place, just ahead of Fernando Alonso. But fortunes flipped in FP2, where Alonso came alive, finishing just 0.087s off Norris for second. Stroll, however, crashed heavily at Turn 3, ending his afternoon early and leaving his mechanics with a long night of repairs.
Alonso, ever calm, suggested the car has genuine pace to trouble the frontrunners – though Zandvoort’s unpredictable weather could dictate how far the green cars go.
Mercedes: Mixed Fortunes but Encouraging Runs
George Russell looked solid across both sessions, climbing to fourth in FP2, though a close call in the pit lane with Piastri underlined just how tricky Zandvoort can be. Rookie Kimi Antonelli endured a steep learning curve, beaching his car in FP1 after a lock-up, but showed resilience by recovering to twelfth in FP2. The long-run pace looked promising, suggesting Mercedes may yet insert themselves into the podium fight.
Red Bull: Verstappen’s Home Woes Continue
On home soil, Max Verstappen had little to smile about. FP1 ended in frustration after a lock-up and trip into the gravel, and while FP2 was steadier, he could manage only fifth, half a second off Norris. Yuki Tsunoda provided a rare bright spot, sneaking into seventh in the second session. Red Bull admitted they are still wrestling with lingering car issues that Zandvoort’s long corners only exaggerate, leaving Verstappen under pressure to deliver in front of the Dutch crowd.
Ferrari: Small Steps, Big Questions
Ferrari’s Friday summed up a season of inconsistency. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton both struggled in FP1, languishing outside the top ten, but clawed their way back in FP2, finishing eighth and sixth respectively. Even so, both admitted the car feels unstable in key corners, with Hamilton’s pair of spins highlighting how much work remains before qualifying.
Williams: Early Promise Fades
Williams were surprise stars of FP1 with Alex Albon in fifth and Carlos Sainz eighth. But the shine quickly wore off when Albon beached his car after a lock-up in FP2, while Sainz slipped down the order to sixteenth. A missed opportunity, but both drivers remain optimistic of sneaking into Q3 if conditions play to their strengths.
Alpine: Colapinto’s Rise Steals Spotlight
The Alpine garage had a tale of two drivers. Pierre Gasly slipped down the order in FP2 after a quiet FP1, but rookie Franco Colapinto delighted home fans with a breakout ninth place in the afternoon. It was a much-needed boost for the team, hinting at untapped pace if everything clicks on Saturday.
Others in the Mix
Kick Sauber continued their steady form, with Nico Hulkenberg breaking into the top ten in FP2 while rookie Gabriel Bortoleto impressed with consistent laps. Haas improved in the afternoon too, with Oliver Bearman just outside the top ten. Racing Bulls endured a tougher day, Isack Hadjar sidelined by power unit issues, while Liam Lawson hovered around the midfield.
Pirelli reported all three compounds could play a role in Sunday’s race. The soft tyre, often fragile at such high-energy tracks, looked surprisingly durable, potentially opening up bold one-stop strategies. With track conditions evolving rapidly and sand constantly blowing across the circuit, tyre choice could prove as decisive as raw pace.
The Big Picture
Friday belonged to McLaren, but Aston Martin are breathing down their necks, Mercedes see reasons for optimism, and Verstappen faces an uphill battle to satisfy the Oranje Army. Ferrari and Williams sit in the balance, while Alpine and Haas hope their flashes of speed can translate into something greater.
With qualifying looming and the gaps razor-thin, Saturday at Zandvoort promises fireworks.
20
20
