Lando Norris topped first practice at the Dutch Grand Prix as the 2024 Formula 1 season resumed in hugely challenging conditions at Zandvoort.
Wind gusts, which forecasts predicted could be as strong as 50mph, arrived as expected to create a major challenge for the drivers, but the addition of rain in the early stages of the session resulted in limited running for the opening 30 minutes.
As the rain relented and the track dried out to allow slick tyres to be used for the final 10 minutes, it was Norris who pipped world championship leader Max Verstappen by two tenths of a second with a time of 1:12.322 for McLaren.
While the circumstances made it difficult to assess outright pace, the result provides encouragement for Norris as he seeks to close a 78-point deficit to Red Bull’s Verstappen at the top of the standings over the 10 remaining rounds of the season.
Norris was driving an upgraded version of the MCL38, with the team’s first major package of new parts since May’s Miami Grand Prix including a new front suspension and floor edge, along with updated front and rear corners.
Lewis Hamilton, who won two of the final three races before the summer break, was third for Mercedes ahead of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.
Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate George Russell was fifth, with Williams’ Alex Albon taking sixth ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.
In front of his Orange Army of fans, Verstappen is seeking to end a streak of four races without victory, his longest since the 2020 season.
The Dutchman, who has won his home race on all three of his previous appearances at Zandvoort, was among the drivers to highlight the treacherous nature of the early conditions as he spun at Turn 11 during his first outing.
Before that, Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg twice ran into the gravel, while Alpine’s Pierre Gasly was another to run off the slippery surface.
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Lando Norris believes that McLaren ‘has everything’ they need to beat Max Verstappen in the Red Bull.
Ferrari reserve driver Robert Shwartzman was 16th for Sauber as he drove in place of Valtteri Bottas, with the team fulfilling one of their two obligated young driver practice sessions for the season,
“I think we’ve got a race on our hands, as we hoped, as we expected,” Sky Sports F1’s Martin Brundle said. “McLaren looked strong. Their upgrades, once again, looked like they were working.
“Of course, as always you don’t know the fuel loads or what have you, but it wasn’t a session where Max Verstappen rocks up, sets a time and everybody spends the rest of the hour chasing it. We have a real race on our hands.”
Sky Sports F1’s live Dutch GP schedule
Friday August 23
2.45pm: Dutch GP Practice Two (session starts 3pm)
4.25pm: F1 Academy: Practice Two
5.15pm: The F1 Show
Saturday August 24
9.10am: F1 Academy: Qualifying
10.15am: Dutch GP Practice Three (session starts 10.30am)
1pm: Dutch GP Qualifying build-up
2pm: DUTCH GP QUALIFYING
4pm: F1 Academy: Race One
Sunday August 25
9.40am: F1 Academy: Race Two
12:30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Dutch GP build-up
2pm: The DUTCH GRAND PRIX
4pm: Chequered Flag: Dutch GP reaction
Formula 1 returns after the summer break with the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime.
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