Zandvoort, FP1: Verstappen tops FP1 ahead of Alonso and Hamilton

Championship leader Max Verstappen topped the opening practice session for this weekend’s 2023 FIA Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix, beating Fernando Alonso by almost three tenths of a second as F1 returned to action at Zandvoort following its summer break. The session was interrupted by red flags, however, for a late crash involving Haas’ Nico Hülkenberg.

Verstappen, who is seeking a third straight win at his home race, was quickly into the groove at Zandvoort, topping the early running on Hard compound Pirelli tyres, setting a target time of 1:13.191.

None of the Dutchman’s rivals could match that pace and it wasn’t until the field began to switch to Soft compound tyres that Verstappen was dislodged.

Williams’ Logan Sargeant was the first to bolt on Soft tyres just before the halfway point, and his lap 1:12.814 jumped him to the top of the order. Verstappen’s Red Bull team-mate Sergio Pérez then moved ahead with a lap of 1:12.439 set on Soft tyres, and the Mexican then lowered the benchmark further with a lap of 1:12.323.

Verstappen, meanwhile, was continuing to pound around on Hard tyres, a tactic matched by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and reserve driver Robert Shwartzman, who was standing in for Carlos Sainz. Neither Ferrari driver made a significant impact on the timesheet with Leclerc ending the session in P16 and Shwartzman in P19.

As the session moved towards its final quarter hour, Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton looked on course to beat Pérez’s table-topper but he was forced to abandon the lap when Hülkenberg crashed. The German lost control in Turn 13 and slid backwards into the barriers. The red flags were shown and the session was halted for eight minutes as his car was recovered from the steep banking.

When the action resumed, Verstappen emerged on Soft tyres and he duly vaulted back to the top of the order with a lap of 1:11.852. Hamilton and Alonso then edged ahead of Pérez with their efforts on the red-walled compound.

Pérez ended the session in fourth place ahead of the impressive Alexander Albon, with McLaren’s Lando Norris in sixth place. Williams’ successful session was completed by Sargeant finishing in P7 ahead of the second McLaren of Oscar Piastri, while AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda finished in ninth place ahead of the Alpine of Esteban Ocon.

At the foot of the table, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll failed to set a time after an engine issue early on forced him back to the pit lane.