In the first practice session for the Dutch Grand Prix, McLaren’s Lando Norris outpaced Red Bull’s Max Verstappen despite challenging weather conditions.
The session began with wet conditions but transitioned to clear skies, while strong winds, reaching over 70km/h, persisted throughout.
Norris finished 0.201 seconds ahead of Verstappen, with Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton taking third place, 0.684 seconds off the lead due to traffic impacting his fastest lap.
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, using medium-compound tyres, secured fourth, followed by Mercedes’ George Russell, Williams’ Alex Albon, and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.
The challenging weather led to several drivers, including Verstappen, making errors, though no crashes occurred.
Norris’ performance is promising for McLaren, who have introduced their first significant upgrade since the Miami Grand Prix.
Red Bull also brought an update as they aim to maintain their position as the top team in Formula 1.
Unsettled weather conditions are expected to persist at the Zandvoort circuit, located in the sand dunes along the North Sea coast.
