Lando Norris set the pace in Dutch GP Free Practice at Zandvoort, completing a clean sweep of fastest times. The McLaren star clocked a blistering 1m 08.972s in FP3, finishing over two-tenths ahead of team mate Oscar Piastri.
The McLaren duo stamped authority ahead of Qualifying, leaving rivals struggling to close the gap. George Russell and Carlos Sainz followed, while local favorite Max Verstappen ended a distant fifth.
Damp Start and Early Runs
Heavy overnight rain left the Zandvoort Circuit damp at the start. Drivers delayed heading out until Isack Hadjar ventured first, keen to recover lost FP2 mileage. He completed only one lap on intermediates, reporting, “the track is very green.” Kimi Antonelli switched to mediums and briefly topped the board with a 1m 13.740s.
Franco Colapinto and Gabriel Bortoleto also showed early pace on hards. Lance Stroll, running a repaired Aston Martin after his FP2 crash, was first to dip under 1m 12s on softs with a 1m 11.854s. Fernando Alonso soon bettered him with a 1m 11.082s.
McLaren Domination
Norris responded at the 20-minute mark with a 1m 10.262s. Piastri, strong in the first sector, shadowed him closely before topping the times on softs with 1m 10.120s.
In qualifying simulations, Norris unleashed a stunning 1m 08.972s, faster than his Friday efforts. Piastri followed, but trailed by more than two-tenths.
Verstappen’s soft tyre run left him nearly a second slower, while Russell edged ahead of the Red Bull. Sainz moved his Williams into fourth, slotting ahead of Verstappen and Charles Leclerc. Alex Albon, Stroll, Hadjar, and Alonso completed the top 10.
Midfield Order and Incidents
Russell endured a scare when Alonso almost collected him near the pit entry, with the incident under investigation.
Further down, Lawson, Tsunoda, and Bortoleto secured P11–13. Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari could manage only 14th. Bearman and Hulkenberg followed, ahead of Antonelli, who was blocked by Stroll and Tsunoda on his final lap.
Esteban Ocon finished ahead of Alpine pair Pierre Gasly and Colapinto, rounding out the order before Qualifying.
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