F1Latest updates as Formula 1 returns following the summer break at Max Verstappen\u2019s home race in Zandvoort <\/p>\n
“An amazing track to drive” – Verstappen excited ahead of Dutch Grand Prix<\/p>\n
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emails<\/p>\n
Formula 1 returns after a four-week summer break with the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort this weekend.<\/p>\n
Max Verstappen claimed his eighth grand prix victory in a row last time out in Belgium and now returns to his home track, where he won last year and on its return to the calendar in 2021. The Dutchman is cruising to a third F1 world championship this season and currently holds a 125-point lead to Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez.<\/p>\n
Lewis Hamilton endured a difficult weekend in Belgium and at Zandvoort will be looking to claim a first race win since Saudi Arabia in December 2021. The Mercedes star is one point behind third-placed Fernando Alonso in the championship.<\/p>\n
Ferrari\u2019s Charles Leclerc claimed the final podium spot at Spa-Francorchamps which moved him up to fifth in the standings, level on points with Mercedes\u2019 George Russell, while McLaren\u2019s Lando Norris will be targeting a third podium in four races.<\/p>\n
Follow live practice updates with The Independent <\/p>\n
1692973898Norris holds the lead!Max Verstappen decides the time is right for a qualifying lap on the soft tyres. It\u2019s a quick lap but he can\u2019t emulate Lando Norris\u2019 times through the first two sectors. <\/p>\n
Verstappen drops further back in the final sector as well and finishes +0.238 behind the McLaren. He\u2019s up into second though. <\/p>\n
Mike Jones25 August 2023 15:31<\/p>\n
1692973771Soft tyres working wondersAfter the break in proceedings a few of the teams have decided to switch out the tyres and put the cars on softs. Logan Sargeant flies up to the top of the table for Williams with a time of 1:11.934 but he\u2019s not there for long. <\/p>\n
Valterri Bottas, Lance Stroll, Pierre Gasly, and Lewis Hamilton all finish above him but the new leader is McLaren\u2019s Lando Norris with a 1:11.330!<\/p>\n
Mike Jones25 August 2023 15:29<\/p>\n
1692973553Oscar Piastri and Daniel Ricciardo crash in second practice (REUTERS)<\/p>\n
(REUTERS)<\/p>\n
Mike Jones25 August 2023 15:25<\/p>\n
1692973446Green light!\ud83d\udfe2With 36 minutes of the session left to go the green light is given and the drivers head back onto the track. There\u2019s loads of time left for the teams to get their data and optimum lap times. <\/p>\n
Mike Jones25 August 2023 15:24<\/p>\n
1692973362Oscar Piastri and Daniel Ricciardo crash in Dutch Grand Prix practiceOscar Piastri and Daniel Ricciardo both hit the wall within moments of each other at the same corner during Friday practice at the Dutch Grand Prix.<\/p>\n
Piastri, who replaced Ricciardo at McLaren this year, spun at turn 3 \u2013 the famed banked corner at this Zandvoort circuit \u2013 early in the second practice session.<\/p>\n
Then, fellow Australian driver Ricciardo came storming round and himself swerved into the wall, likely put off by the stricken McLaren in front of him.<\/p>\n
Mike Jones25 August 2023 15:22<\/p>\n
1692973305Red Flag!\ud83d\uded1As we wait for the green light here\u2019s a look at the top 10 on the leaderboard so far. As expected, Max Verstappen leads the way with Sergio Perez second and Lewis Hamilton third: <\/p>\n
Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 1:12.449 Sergio Perez (Red Bull) – 1:12.6446 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) – 1:12.713George Russell (Mercedes) – 1:12.813Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 1:12.901Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – 1:13.035Daniel Ricciardo (AlphaTauri) – 1:13.096Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – 1:13.149Alexander Albon (Williams) – 1:13.2087Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1:13.280Mike Jones25 August 2023 15:21<\/p>\n
1692972932Red Flag!\ud83d\uded1Oscar Piastri is heading back to the pit lane and looks to be fine. His car is being craned into the middle of the track though and it seems unlikely that he\u2019ll be heading back out during this practice session. <\/p>\n
The AlphaTauri hasn\u2019t moved yet though Daniel Ricciardo is okay. <\/p>\n
Mike Jones25 August 2023 15:15<\/p>\n
1692972785Red Flag! \ud83d\uded1AlphaTauri\u2019s Daniel Ricciardo and McLaren\u2019s Oscar Piastri both crash into the barriers! <\/p>\n
Piastri lost the turn first and crashed out just as Ricciardo was coming round the bend, he had to bail out and ended up in the wall himself. <\/p>\n
The red flag comes out after 10 minutes of FP2.<\/p>\n
Mike Jones25 August 2023 15:13<\/p>\n
1692972649Hamilton replaces Perez!Lewis Hamilton will be hoping to improve on his third place in FP1 and has made a decent start to this practice session with a quick time that leaves him top of the table by three-hundreths of a second.<\/p>\n
That lead doesn\u2019t last long though as first Sergio Perez then Max Verstappen move above him. <\/p>\n
(REUTERS)<\/p>\n
Mike Jones25 August 2023 15:10<\/p>\n
1692972436Sergio Perez goes fastest!Red Bull\u2019s Max Verstappen is one of the last drivers to leave the pit lane and during his out lap his teammate Sergio Perez takes the lead with a time of 1:12.750 early in this second practice.<\/p>\n
Lance Stroll is up to second in his Aston Martin too.<\/p>\n
Mike Jones25 August 2023 15:07<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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