Kimi Antonelli recorded the fastest time in Free Practice 1 for the Dutch Grand Prix at Circuit Zandvoort today. The Mercedes driver set a lap of 1:12.949, positioning himself at the top of the leaderboard for the opening session of the weekend.
Lando Norris secured second place for McLaren, 0.121 seconds behind Antonelli. George Russell, Antonelli’s Mercedes teammate, finished third, just 0.125 seconds off the pace.
Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton claimed fourth, with Charles Leclerc completing the top five, 0.289 seconds adrift of Antonelli. The narrow margins among the frontrunners suggest a competitive battle for sprint pole later today.
The full top 10 for Free Practice 1 included Oscar Piastri in sixth for McLaren, followed by Nico Hulkenberg of Audi in seventh. Pierre Gasly placed eighth for Alpine, with Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) and Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) rounding out the top positions.
Antonelli currently leads the 2026 Drivers’ Championship with 219 points after 11 rounds. He holds a 50-point advantage over Hamilton, who sits in second with 169 points. Russell is third in the standings with 160 points.
The Italian, who turns 20 next week, has secured six victories this season. His wins include the Chinese Grand Prix, where he became the youngest polesitter and winner, and the Japanese Grand Prix, where he became the youngest championship leader.
Hamilton’s sole victory this season came at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, marking his first win for Ferrari. He expressed confidence in Ferrari’s progress, stating, ‘I believe I have returned in great shape from the break.’
I believe I have returned in great shape from the break.
Norris, the reigning World Drivers’ Champion from 2025, secured his first win of the current season at the Hungarian Grand Prix. McLaren has brought a new rear wing, engine cover, and revised rear brake ducts to Zandvoort, completing a package introduced in Hungary.
Ferrari has implemented five updates for the Dutch Grand Prix, primarily focusing on the floor. These include a revised floor body, floor board, floor edge, an updated diffuser, and a new beam wing, aimed at improving low-speed cornering stability and overall downforce.
Mercedes introduced a single update to the front corner of their W17 car, with revisions to the duct inlet and camber to enhance airflow to the rear. Red Bull made a minor change to the lower wishbone rearward leg chord for improved reliability.
Max Verstappen, whose new long-term Red Bull deal until 2030 was announced on Thursday, finished Free Practice 1 in 11th position. Red Bull has faced challenges with the 2026 regulations, and Verstappen had previously considered retirement due to dissatisfaction.
Circuit Zandvoort, a 4.259 km (2.646 mi) track with 14 corners, is known for its challenging banked sections, including the 19-degree Turn 3 (Hugenholtzbocht) and 18-degree Turn 14 (Arie Luyendykbocht). These features demand high downforce and precise car setup.
The Dutch Grand Prix is a Sprint weekend, a first for Zandvoort, and marks the final race under the circuit’s current contract. Free Practice 1 and Sprint Qualifying are scheduled for today, Friday, with the Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying on Saturday.
Sprint qualifying is set to commence at 3:30 PM BST. The session began with damp patches on the track, leading drivers to initially use intermediate tyres before switching to slicks as conditions improved. Antonelli experienced a harmless spin at Turn 10 during the session.
