F1 practice LIVE: Charles Leclerc fastest in FP2 as Oscar Piastri signs for McLaren
Follow all the reaction to second practice this afternoon at the Dutch Grand Prix after Mercedes went fastest in FP1
The Formula 1 season continues after its return in Belgium last week with this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, with Max Verstappen holding a healthy 93-point lead in the World Championship with eight races to go.
The Red Bull star stormed to victory at Spa-Francorchamps at the weekend, winning by a margin of 18 seconds to team-mate Sergio Perez despite starting in P14 due to an engine penalty; Carlos Sainz took the other podium spot as he held off George Russell late on, while Charles Leclerc finished sixth.
Lewis Hamilton retired for the first time this season following a first-lap collision with the Alpine of Fernando Alonso; the Mercedes star admitted responsibility for the incident afterwards and despite Alonso’s “idiot” comment over team radio, the former McLaren duo have since buried the hatchet.
This weekend sees F1 roll into Zandvoort, which returned to the calendar last year when Verstappen comfortably won his home Grand Prix in front of his adoring home fans amid a fever-pitch atmosphere on the Dutch coast. The Mercedes duo of Russell and Hamilton earned Mercedes a one-two in first practice with Sainz third and Verstappen stopping after just 10 minutes due to a transmission issue. Second practice saw Leclerc lead a Ferrari one-two ahead of Sainz, with Hamilton third and Verstappen down in eighth with the news of Oscar Piastri signing for McLaren the main talking point from Friday.
Follow all the action here with The Independent:
Soap opera off-track overshadows start to Dutch GP weekend as Oscar Piastri saga concludes
While the weekend action began out on track in Zandvoort, Formula 1’s most enthralling summer soap opera reached its conclusion with the news that Oscar Piastri has signed for McLaren.
The 2021 Formula 2 champion has for the past month been in the middle of a squabbling match between McLaren and Alpine, with the latter’s public announcement that test driver Piastri will race for them next year immediately rebuked by the Australian himself on social media.
Finally though, we have our result. Piastri will race for McLaren, signing a “multi-year contract” as Lando Norris’ team-mate.
“I’m extremely excited to be making my F1 debut with such a prestigious team as McLaren and I’m very grateful for the opportunity that’s been offered to me,” Piastri said in a press release, publicised this time with his consent.
While McLaren will be relieved their contract with Piastri – signed after the British Grand Prix on July 4 – was seen as valid by the F1’s Contract Recognition Board, for Alpine’s management it is very much back to the drawing board.
Soap opera off-track overshadows start to Dutch GP weekend as Piastri saga concludes
Lewis Hamilton sparks hope of first win with Dutch Grand Prix practice pace
Lewis Hamilton finished just seven hundredths off the pace in practice for the Dutch Grand Prix to provide him with hope he could land his first win of the season.
Five days after the first-lap accident with Fernando Alonso in Belgium which forced him to retire, Hamilton ended a competitive day for his Mercedes team in third narrowly behind Ferrari pacesetter Charles Leclerc and his team-mate Carlos Sainz.
One hundred and five thousand fans are set to create a carnival atmosphere for homecoming king Max Verstappen on Sunday.
But the Dutch driver endured a troubled day in front of his adoring fans, breaking down with a gearbox failure in the opening running, and then finishing only eighth in the second session.
Lewis Hamilton sparks hope of first win with Dutch GP practice pace
F1 practice
Friday’s practice session is over and done with. Mercedes and Ferrari are the big winners of the day with Red Bull struggling across both sesssion.
McLaren’s day was up and down and they’ll face tough competition from two quick Alpines this weekend.
F1 practice: Drive it out
Forumla 1 is united in it’s desire to drive abuse of all kinds out of the sport, and are calling on the entire F1 family to join them in driving out hatred.
Oscar Piastri replaces Daniel Ricciardo at McLaren after rejecting F1 seat at Alpine
McLaren have announced the signing of Oscar Piastri as their driver in Formula 1 on a “multi-year contract” - after Alpine originally declared the Australian would race for them.
Last year’s F2 champion Piastri was announced as Alpine’s F1 driver in a press release last month which raised suspicions after it didn’t include any quotes from the 21-year-old himself and, hours later, Piastri insisted this press release had been published “without his permission” and he has “not signed a contract with Alpine for 2023”, adding he will “not be driving for Alpine next year.”
Now Piastri - who is managed by nine-time Grand Prix winner and compatriot Mark Webber - has been announced as a driver for McLaren for 2023 in an announcement made by the Woking-based team, partnering Lando Norris having signed a “multi-year contract.”
Piastri replaces Ricciardo at McLaren after rejecting F1 seat at Alpine
F1 practice: A good day for Mercedes
After a one-two finish in the first practice session earlier today, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell came in with P3 and P5 finishes respectively in FP2.
They’re in a good position to attack qualifying tomorrow.
F1 practice: Top 10 in FP2
Mercedes took the top two positions in the opening session but it’s Ferrari’s afternoon as Charles Leclerc goes quickest in FP2 closely followed by Carlos Sainz.
Max Verstappen meanwhile is way down in P8. Here’s a look at the top-10 times:
1. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 1:12.345
2. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) - 1:12.349
3. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) - 1:12.417
4. Lando Norris (McLaren) - 1:12.448
5. George Russell (Mercedes) - 1:12.655
6. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) - 1:12.746
7. Fernando Alonso (Alpine) - 1:12.848
8. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - 1:13.042
9. Esteban Ocon (Alpine) - 1:13.305
10. Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) - 1:13.362
F1 practice: Chequered flag
Charles Leclerc is top of the time sheets with a 1:12.345 done on the medium tyres. His Ferrari team-mate Carlos Sainz is in second place, with Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton third quickest.
Lando Norris finishes fourth with George Russell rounding out the top five.
F1 practice: Green light! 🟢
There’s only a couple of minutes left in the session, enough time for one lap maybe. The drivers will stay out and practise their starts after the time ticks over.
Max Verstappen is the first man back out on track and he’s going at a fare lick.
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