The fans in Holland are already in a party mood on Friday: there is dancing in the grandstands, loud disco music is blaring around the track. Alone: Home hero Max Verstappen can’t create a party atmosphere at the start of the Netherlands GP.
Max Verstappen finished early in the first training session
“The balance wasn’t good and one hour is of course not much time (after the early exit in the first training session; ed.)”, says Verstappen. “But we have all night to change things and I’m sure we can do better to be more competitive tomorrow.”
“It was a much better Friday than last week and a good start to the weekend. We ended up on the sweet spot with our car a lot more here, it doesn’t feel so bad here,” reports record world champion Hamilton. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff is happy: “This is one of the better circuits for us and you can see that we’ve gotten straight to the music.”
Not only Ferrari, but also Mercedes was quick on Friday
Things are going better for Mick Schumacher: The Haas driver finished 13th directly ahead of compatriot Sebastian Vettel and beat his experienced teammate Kevin Magnussen by seven tenths. Already in the opening session, the German finished eleventh on the dune course by the North Sea, two tenths ahead of the Dane. “I would call it a clean day. The car felt good right from the start and was definitely a bit nicer to drive than in Spa,” said Schumacher.
Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix
2nd free practice, result:
2. Carlos Sainz Jr. (Spain) – Ferrari +0.004s
3. Lewis Hamilton (Great Britain) – Mercedes +0.072
4. Lando Norris (Great Britain) – McLaren +0.103
5. George Russell (Great Britain) – Mercedes +0.310
6. Lance Stroll (Canada) – Aston Martin +0.401
7. Fernando Alonso (Spain) – Alpine +0.503
8. Max Verstappen (Netherlands) – Red Bull +0.697
9. Esteban Ocon (France) – Alpine +0.960
10. Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) – McLaren +1.016
11. Yuki Tsunoda (Japan) – Alpha Tauri +1.074
12. Sergio Perez (Mexico) – Red Bull +1.148
13. Mick Schumacher (Gland/Switzerland) – Haas +1.259
14. Sebastian Vettel (Heppenheim) – Aston Martin +1.266
15. Zhou Guanyu (China) – Alfa Romeo +1.279
16. Pierre Gasly (France) – Alpha Tauri +1.321
17.Alexander Albon (Thailand)-Williams +1.492
18. Valtteri Bottas (Finland) – Alfa Romeo +1.822
19. Kevin Magnussen (Denmark) – Haas +1.937
20. Nicholas Latifi (Canada) – Williams +2.452
Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix
1st free practice, result:
1. George Russell (Great Britain) – Mercedes 1:12.455 min.
2. Lewis Hamilton (Great Britain) – Mercedes +0.240s
3. Carlos Sainz Jr (Spain) – Ferrari +0.390
4. Lando Norris (Great Britain) – McLaren +0.474
5. Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) – McLaren +0.622
6. Charles Leclerc (Monaco) – Ferrari +0.672
7. Sergio Perez (Mexico) – Red Bull +0.961
8. Fernando Alonso (Spain) – Alpine +1.178
9. Esteban Ocon (France) – Alpine +1.508
10. Alexander Albon (Thailand) – Williams +1.608
11. Mick Schumacher (Gland/Switzerland) – Haas +1.708
12. Lance Stroll (Canada) – Aston Martin +1.802
13. Kevin Magnussen (Denmark) – Haas +1,950
14. Pierre Gasly (France) – Alpha Tauri +2.019
15. Sebastian Vettel (Heppenheim) – Aston Martin +2.045
16. Zhou Guanyu (China) – Alfa Romeo +2.079
17. Yuki Tsunoda (Japan) – Alpha Tauri +2.175
18. Valtteri Bottas (Finland) – Alfa Romeo +2.240
19. Max Verstappen (Netherlands) – Red Bull +2.259
20. Nicholas Latifi (Canada) – Williams +2.667
