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First practice in Zandvoort – LIVE from 12.30 pm

Lando Norris

(Bild: Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

McLaren driver Lando Norris was fastest in the first free practice session at Zandvoort in changeable weather conditions. He was followed by Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.

McLaren driver Lando Norris set the fastest time in an eventful first Formula 1 practice session for the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort. On their return from the summer break on Friday, the drivers faced gusty winds and a wet track, which dried out over the course of the one-hour session on the North Sea coast. In the end, Norris was just faster than championship leader Max Verstappen (+0.201 sec.) in the Red Bull and Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton (+0.684).

Verstappen, who will be making his 200th Grand Prix start on Sunday (15:00), spun once on the wet track. Alpine driver Pierre Gasly complained that it was "pretty wild" with the wind. In the championship standings, Verstappen still has a comfortable 78-point lead over Norris ahead of the 15th of 24 races this season. Verstappen has won the last three editions in his Dutch homeland, but the triple champion has been waiting four races for a Grand Prix victory. Mercedes recently bounced back with three victories.

Another 200 races for Verstappen? "No!"
In the run-up to the race, Verstappen had emphasized that he sees himself in the second half of his career. The local hero was asked whether he would complete another 200 races. "No," the 26-year-old replied promptly. "So I'm more than halfway through." Verstappen celebrated his Formula 1 debut in 2015 at just 17 years and 166 days old - no other driver was younger. He has won 61 of the 199 Grand Prix races to date. His contract with Red Bull runs until the end of the 2028 season.

Extending his current contract with Red Bull is currently not an issue for him. "I'm not thinking about a new contract, I want to see how it goes, also in terms of the new regulations and whether they are fun," emphasized Verstappen, who is being heavily courted by Mercedes.