Max Verstappen loses to Lando Norris at the Dutch Grand Prix, and Daniel Ricciardo is hospitalized following an accident.
Watch the Dutch GP Qualifying live on Sky Sports F1 on Saturday at 2pm. Lando Norris outperformed world championship leader Max Verstappen to win second practice on Friday in Zandvoort. Daniel Ricciardo was hospitalized following a suspected hand injury sustained in an accident.
At the Dutch Grand Prix, Lando Norris showed off McLaren’s comeback even more by beating Max Verstappen of Red Bull to the top of second practice.
The British driver finished 0.023 seconds ahead of world championship leader Max Verstappen, who had won Friday’s first practice at his home race, with a 1:11.330 at Zandvoort.
Although Verstappen seemed to have an unsatisfactory lap, Norris’s performance indicates McLaren may be a contender for pole on Saturday. Verstappen leads the drivers’ standings by 125 points and is aiming for a record-tying ninth race victory.
When to watch live this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix on Sky F1
Vegas fever, Max Verstappen’s quest, and the stakes when Formula One returns
For only £26 a month, stream Formula One and more with NOW.
In Practice One, Alex Albon finished strong in third place, ahead of Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes, who, barring Norris, seems to be the most probable contender to push Verstappen in a single lap.
Oscar Piastri, Norris’ rookie teammate, was only able to complete his practice after nine minutes due to an accident at Turn 3, therefore he was unable to capitalize on the outstanding MCL60.
Piastri was followed into the barrier by AlphaTauri’s Daniel Ricciardo, who was late to notice McLaren’s stricken car, resulting in a double-incident and a red flag.
Ricciardo, who reported an injury to his hand and struggled to exit the car, has expressed doubts about his participation for the rest of the weekend, as he was taken to the hospital for checks.
Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly finished fifth and fifth, respectively, in the Alpine race, outpacing Red Bull’s Sergio Perez and other usual front-runners.
Fernando Alonso finished 10th in the Aston Martin, finishing second in the opening session. Ferrari had a concerning start to the weekend, with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz missing Practice One to allow Robert Shwartzman to complete one of the Italian team’s rookie driver sessions. Nico Hulkenberg avoided punishment after crashing out of first practice and was called to the stewards after the session.
McLaren’s impressive performance in Austria following updates has made them a credible contender in the race to surpass Red Bull, following a disastrous start to the season.
Norris secured second places in Britain and Hungary, but regression in Belgium raised concerns about their ability to maintain front position after the summer break. McLaren is likely to end Red Bull’s 12-win streak, while Verstappen, who has secured a third consecutive title, is unlikely to be phased by Norris’ speed, as Red Bull’s strongest performance of the season has come in race trim on a Sunday.
Hamilton continued his strong form to outperform teammate George Russell on Friday. Although a repeat of his thrilling pole in Hungary is unlikely, Mercedes appears content with their setup, which team principal Toto Wolff said is more geared towards Sunday. The weekend could be sparked by the weather, with showers forecast for both Saturday and Sunday in the Dutch coastal town.
