Formula 1 has returned after the summer break with a dramatic opening day of practice at Circuit Zandvoort, setting the tone for a tense and unpredictable Dutch Grand Prix weekend.
The seaside circuit, carved through the dunes on the Dutch coast, is one of the most unique venues on the calendar. First opened in 1948, the 4.259km track blends old-school narrow sections with modern, banked corners.
It’s combination of technical corners, limited overtaking zones makes Zandvoort one of the toughest stops on the calendar.
For Liam Lawson, the weekend carried an extra sense of significance. Speaking to the media on Thursday, the Kiwi reflected on his return to the place where he made his Formula 1 debut in 2023.
“It’s good to be back. Back where my F1 career started,” Lawson said.
Asked if his strong run of form before the summer break could carry forward, Lawson dismissed the idea of “momentum” in F1.
“Each weekend we have to start again. Every track is different, and it’s about putting ourselves in a good position in qualifying, especially here where overtaking is so tough.”
Lawson entered the Dutch weekend sitting 15th in the drivers’ standings with 22 points, just two behind Racing Bulls teammate Isack Hadjar, and third among the six rookies on the 2025 grid.
Free Practice 1:
The first session back after four weeks of downtime saw plenty of track action and drama. Max Verstappen initially set the pace on mediums with a 1:12.767, before McLaren quickly stamped their authority.
Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris both surged to the top, with Piastri briefly leading before Alonso, Albon, and then Verstappen traded fastest laps.
An early red flag halted proceedings when Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli beached his car in the Turn 9 gravel, while Yuki Tsunoda also had a scare at Turn 11.
Once running resumed, Piastri again set the benchmark with a 1:11.794 on mediums, before the switch to soft tyres reshuffled the order. Norris immediately underlined McLaren’s pace, delivering a blistering 1:10.278 lap, over seven tenths clear of the rest of the field.
Lawson’s opening runs placed him around the midfield on mediums, but when the Racing Bulls switched to softs, both rookies showed strong pace. Lawson slotted into 11th with a lap 1.475s off Norris, narrowly ahead of teammate Hadjar.
The session ended with a McLaren 1–2, Norris leading Piastri by nearly three tenths, while the Aston Martin pair of Lance Stroll and Alonso followed in third and fourth. Verstappen, after a late practice start mishap that left him stuck in the gravel at Turn 1, finished sixth.
FP1 Top 10: Norris, Piastri, Stroll, Alonso, Albon, Verstappen, Russell, Sainz, Bortoleto, Gasly.
Lawson: P11 (+1.475s), Hadjar: P12 (+1.494s).
Free Practice 2:
The afternoon session was even more eventful, with weather and incidents interrupting proceedings. Rain was forecast early, prompting teams to push for laps on dry tyres.
Lawson began on the hard compound and impressed immediately, running as high as fifth early in the session and just four tenths off Norris’s benchmark, notable given he was on slower rubber than many around him.
The session was red-flagged after 20 minutes when Stroll suffered a heavy crash at Turn 3, damaging his Aston Martin. Shortly after running resumed, Racing Bulls’ troubles worsened as Hadjar was told to stop his car due to a sudden power loss, ending his session without a timed lap.
As the track evolved, Hulkenberg briefly topped the times on softs before Alonso went quickest with a sub-1:10 effort. But once again, Norris had the final say, producing a 1:09.890 to edge Alonso by 0.087s. Piastri slotted into third, making it another McLaren 1–2 at the sharp end.
Lawson ended the session in 14th, 1.449s off Norris’s leading time but again ahead of several experienced names, while Hadjar languished in 20th with no lap recorded.
FP2 Top 10: Norris, Alonso, Piastri, Russell, Verstappen, Hamilton, Tsunoda, Leclerc, Colapinto, Hulkenberg.
Lawson: P14 (+1.449s), Hadjar: P20 (no time).
McLaren looks ominously strong around Zandvoort, consistently half a second clear of the field in FP1 and still leading the way in FP2 despite the mixed conditions and red flags. Norris in particular appears to have the edge, topping both sessions.
For Lawson, the day brought encouraging signs. His pace on the hard compound in FP2 suggested there is more potential to unlock, especially in qualifying trim, where track position is vital at Zandvoort.
Outpacing his teammate in both sessions, the Kiwi looks well placed heading into Saturday.
With Verstappen chasing a home victory, McLaren flying, and the midfield tightly packed, the Dutch Grand Prix weekend is already shaping up to deliver an interesting fight.
Header Image: Mark Thompson/Getty Images via Red Bull Content Pool
