Antonelli Leads Mercedes Charge in Opening Zandvoort Practice
Formula 1’s post-summer break return at Zandvoort began with a statement of intent from Mercedes’ rising star Kimi Antonelli, who topped the charts in the only practice session ahead of this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix.
In a session characterized by rapidly shifting track conditions, Antonelli emerged as the benchmark, clocking a 1m12.949s lap in the dying moments of the hour. His effort stood as the only sub-1m13s time of the session, narrowly edging out McLaren’s Lando Norris by just 0.121s. Mercedes teammate George Russell completed a strong showing for the Silver Arrows, finishing a mere four-thousandths of a second behind Norris in third.
A Damp Start to the Weekend
The weekend opened under tricky circumstances, with a damp track forcing the grid to start on intermediate tires. However, the resilient Dutch climate saw conditions improve almost immediately. Nico Hulkenberg was the first to signal that the surface was ready for slicks, with Oscar Piastri pioneering the switch to medium rubber just five minutes into the session.
As a dry line emerged around the coastal circuit, lap times plummeted. Antonelli’s session was not without its dramas, however; the Italian experienced a full 360-degree spin at Turn 10 early on. Despite the scare, he managed to recover without causing damage to his car, demonstrating his composure as he continued to find pace.
Late Simulations Intensify
The final ten minutes were defined by aggressive qualifying simulations on soft tires. The lead changed hands multiple times as the session reached its crescendo. Oscar Piastri briefly held the top spot with a 1m13.608s, only for Charles Leclerc and then Lewis Hamilton to trade the fastest times.
In a congested final five-minute window, it was Antonelli who ultimately mastered the track to secure the top spot, followed by Norris and the two Mercedes cars. Hamilton rounded out a stellar session for the Brackley-based team in fourth, ahead of Ferrari’s Leclerc in fifth and Piastri in sixth.
Red Bull Struggles at Home
While Mercedes enjoyed a dominant start, championship concerns loomed over the Red Bull garage. Max Verstappen endured a difficult session, reporting persistent issues with downshifts and oversteer. After running wide at the final corner, the Dutchman could only manage 11th on the timesheets.
The team also saw a change in personnel, with Liam Lawson stepping in for Isack Hadjar, who was sidelined due to a wrist injury. Lawson managed a 14th-place finish, while Yuki Tsunoda utilized the session to gain his first meaningful experience in the 2026-spec machinery, slotting into 17th.
As the paddock looks ahead to qualifying, the competitive order remains tight, with the gap between Mercedes, McLaren, and Ferrari providing a tantalizing preview of what is to come on Saturday.
Final Practice Standings (Top 10):
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 1m12.949s
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1m13.070s
- George Russell (Mercedes) – 1m13.074s
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) – 1m13.139s
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 1m13.238s
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 1m13.608s
- Nico Hulkenberg (Haas) – 1m13.784s
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – 1m13.911s
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) – 1m13.992s
- Arvid Lindblad (RB) – 1m14.285s
