Practice 1 Report - Antonelli edges Norris in Dutch practice

Kimi Antonelli set the pace in the Dutch Grand Prix’s only practice session, narrowly beating Lando Norris as Formula 1 returned from its summer break at Zandvoort.

The Mercedes driver delivered a 1m12.949s lap in the closing minutes, making him the sole runner beneath the 1m13s barrier. Norris took second for McLaren, just 0.121s behind, while George Russell finished another four-thousandths back in third.

A damp track prompted the field to begin on intermediate tyres, but conditions improved almost immediately. Nico Hulkenberg quickly suggested slicks were suitable and Oscar Piastri switched to mediums five minutes into the hour. Piastri initially led with 1m23.311s, then found almost three seconds on his following tour.

Times continued falling rapidly as the dry line widened. Antonelli posted 1m18.264s, 1m16.112s and 1m15.531s across his first three flying laps, while Lewis Hamilton, Russell and Charles Leclerc all briefly headed the order. Antonelli’s progress was interrupted by a 360-degree spin at Turn 10, leaving the Italian puzzled but able to continue without damage.

The decisive qualifying simulations began with 10 minutes remaining. Piastri’s 1m13.608s on softs displaced Leclerc’s medium-tyre benchmark before Leclerc responded. Hamilton then went fastest with 1m13.139s, only for Norris and Antonelli to move ahead during the crowded final five minutes.

Mercedes placed both cars in the top three, with Hamilton fourth, Leclerc fifth and Piastri sixth. Hulkenberg claimed an impressive seventh on mediums, followed by Pierre Gasly, Gabriel Bortoleto and Arvid Lindblad.

Mercedes showed strong speed after the break, while Ferrari and McLaren remained competitive over one lap despite Piastri’s comparatively large deficit to Antonelli on Friday.

Red Bull struggled throughout. Max Verstappen reported poor downshifts and oversteer, ran wide approaching the final corner and ended 11th. Liam Lawson replaced Isack Hadjar, who was sidelined by an injured wrist, and managed only 14th. Yuki Tsunoda slotted in at Racing Bulls, gaining his first exposure to Formula 1’s 2026 cars.

Final times: Antonelli 1m12.949s; Norris 1m13.070s; Russell 1m13.074s; Hamilton 1m13.139s; Leclerc 1m13.238s; Piastri 1m13.608s; Hulkenberg 1m13.784s; Gasly 1m13.911s; Bortoleto 1m13.992s; Lindblad 1m14.285s; Verstappen 1m14.325s; Fernando Alonso 1m14.511s; Franco Colapinto 1m14.826s; Lawson 1m14.861s; Oliver Bearman 1m14.874s; Esteban Ocon 1m14.897s; Tsunoda 1m15.110s; Lance Stroll 1m15.199s; Alex Albon 1m15.357s; Valtteri Bottas 1m15.580s; Sergio Perez 1m15.700s; Carlos Sainz 1m16.345s.