F1 practice LIVE: Charles Leclerc fastest in FP2 as Oscar Piastri signs for McLaren
Follow all the reaction to second practice this afternoon at the Dutch Grand Prix after Mercedes went fastest in FP1
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Your support makes all the difference.The Formula 1 season continues after its return in Belgium last week with this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, with Max Verstappen holding a healthy 93-point lead in the World Championship with eight races to go.
The Red Bull star stormed to victory at Spa-Francorchamps at the weekend, winning by a margin of 18 seconds to team-mate Sergio Perez despite starting in P14 due to an engine penalty; Carlos Sainz took the other podium spot as he held off George Russell late on, while Charles Leclerc finished sixth.
Lewis Hamilton retired for the first time this season following a first-lap collision with the Alpine of Fernando Alonso; the Mercedes star admitted responsibility for the incident afterwards and despite Alonso’s “idiot” comment over team radio, the former McLaren duo have since buried the hatchet.
This weekend sees F1 roll into Zandvoort, which returned to the calendar last year when Verstappen comfortably won his home Grand Prix in front of his adoring home fans amid a fever-pitch atmosphere on the Dutch coast. The Mercedes duo of Russell and Hamilton earned Mercedes a one-two in first practice with Sainz third and Verstappen stopping after just 10 minutes due to a transmission issue. Second practice saw Leclerc lead a Ferrari one-two ahead of Sainz, with Hamilton third and Verstappen down in eighth with the news of Oscar Piastri signing for McLaren the main talking point from Friday.
Follow all the action here with The Independent:
F1 practice: Top 10
Here are the top 10 fastest times from FP1:
1. George Russell (Mercedes) - 1:12.455
2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) - 1:12.695
3. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) - 1:12.845
4. Lando Norris (McLaren) - 1:12.929
5. Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) - 1:13.077
6. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 1:13.127
7. Sergio Perez (Red Bull) - 1:13.416
8. Fernando Alonso (Alpine) - 1:13.633
9. Esteban Ocon (Alpine) - 1:13.963
10. Alexander Albon (Williams) - 1:14.063
F1 practice: Mercedes quickest around Zandvoort
The chequered flag comes down and it’s a one-two finish for Mercedes. They left it late to switch onto the soft tyres but both drivers found an immediate response.
George Russell goes quickest with a lap time of 1:12.455 whilst Lewis Hamilton finishes P2 (+0.240) behind.
F1 practice: Hamilton can’t hear his team
Lewis Hamilton seems to have been driving a bit blind today with a few drivers complaining about him. The 37-year-old has been on the radio to say he’s struggling to hear any radio messages from the pit wall which could explain it.
Elsewhere Lando Norris and Sebastian Vettel almost get into a tangle as Norris tries to goes past on a quick lap and Vettel doesn’t leave enough room.
F1 practice: Five minutes to go
FP1 is winding down with Mercedes sitting in pole position. Red Bull’s Sergio Perez is currently sitting P7 behind both Mercedes, both Ferraris and both McLarens.
F1 practice: Mercedes are flying
Lewis Hamilton’s first lap on the soft tyres propels him up into P2 and puts him just (+0.240) seconds behind team mate George Russell.
Mercedes are now sitting one-two on the leaderboard.
Eight minutes to go in FP1.
F1 practice: Russell out in front
There’s a new driver at the top of the leaderboard as Mercedes’ George Russell sets a new fastest time of 1:12.455.
F1 practice: Perez avoids the wall
This is a close call for Red Bull’s Sergio Perez. He cam within inches of hitting the wall which would have been a nightmare for the team as Max Verstappen is already out of practice.
F1 practice: Russell up to P3
George Russell has put on a set of soft tyres and immediate jumps up to third place just (+0.019) behind Sainz’s quickest time.
Hamilton is still in the pits but Russell has proven that the pace is there for Mercedes.
There’s a lot of work being done on the front of Hamilton’s car in the garage.
F1 practice: Top five lap times
Carlos Sainz continues to lead the way for Ferrari with both McLarens putting in top quality lap times to stay ahead of Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez.
All five of the quickest lap times have been done on the soft tyres.
1. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) 1:12.845
2. Lando Norris (McLaren) +0.084s
3. Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) +0.232s
4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.282s
5. Sergio Perez (Red Bull) +0.571s
F1 practice: Mercedes not pushing hard
Lewis Hamilton and George Russell are down in 16th and 17th place respectively with 20 minutes of the session to go. Neither car has switched tyres yet although both are in the garage.
It could be an exciting end to FP1 for the Mercedes if they’re moving to the softs otherwise expect them to attack the top of the leaderboard in this afternoon’s session.
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