Norris denies Verstappen practice double at Dutch GP, as Piastri and Ricciardo crash out
Formula 1 returns after a four-week summer break with the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort this weekend.
Max Verstappen claimed his eighth grand prix victory in a row last time out in Belgium and now returns to his home track, where he won last year and on its return to the calendar in 2021. The Dutchman is cruising to a third F1 world championship this season and currently holds a 125-point lead to Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez.
Lewis Hamilton endured a difficult weekend in Belgium and at Zandvoort will be looking to claim a first race win since Saudi Arabia in December 2021. The Mercedes star is one point behind third-placed Fernando Alonso in the championship.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc claimed the final podium spot at Spa-Francorchamps which moved him up to fifth in the standings, level on points with Mercedes’ George Russell, while McLaren’s Lando Norris will be targeting a third podium in four races.
Follow live practice updates with The Independent
F1 DUTCH GRAND PRIX – QUALIFYING
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F1 Driver Standings
1) Max Verstappen – 314 points
2) Sergio Perez – 189 points
3) Fernando Alonso – 149 points
4) Lewis Hamilton – 148 points
5) Charles Leclerc – 99 points
6) George Russell – 99 points
7) Carlos Sainz – 92 points
8) Lando Norris – 69 points
9) Lance Stroll – 47 points
10) Esteban Ocon – 35 points
11) Oscar Piastri – 34 points
12) Pierre Gasly – 22 points
13) Alex Albon – 11 points
14) Nico Hulkenberg – 9 points
15) Valtteri Bottas – 5 points
16) Zhou Guanyu – 4 points
17) Yuki Tsunoda – 3 points
18) Kevin Magnussen – 2 points
19) Logan Sargeant – 0 points
20) Nyck de Vries – 0 points
21) Daniel Ricciardo – 0 points
Kieran Jackson26 August 2023 12:27
Lewis Hamilton gives blunt response to Felipe Massa’s legal action over 2008 F1 title
Lewis Hamilton insists he is “not focusing on what happened 15 years ago” when questioned on Thursday about Felipe Massa’s legal action over the 2008 Formula 1 title.
Hamilton, now a seven-time world champion, won his first F1 title in 2008 on the final lap of a dramatic final race in Brazil, with Massa missing out by a single point.
Kieran Jackson26 August 2023 12:14
Max Verstappen on top in wet final practice at Zandvoort
The concluding hour before qualifying was red-flagged on three occasions following a series of accidents in the tricky conditions at Zandvoort.
With the session a little more than 10 minutes old, Kevin Magnussen spun out in his Haas at Turn 3, before Zhou Guanyu beached his Alfa Romeo at the penultimate corner.
Liam Lawson – the New Zealander making his Formula One debut as a replacement for Daniel Ricciardo who suffered a broken wrist in practice – then performed a pirouette heading into the main straight.
Kieran Jackson26 August 2023 12:03
Kieran Jackson26 August 2023 11:52
What time is qualifying later?
Kieran Jackson26 August 2023 11:41
Max Verstappen fastest in FP3!
Times were indeed tumbling at the end there, but Max Verstappen just went even faster!
The home hero is top of the leaderboard with a 1:21:631, three-tenths quicker than the Mercedes of George Russell in second!
Sergio Perez is third, with Fernando Alonso fourth and Lewis Hamilton fifth – but all at least a second behind Verstappen!
6-10: Albon, Piastri, Bottas, Leclerc, Norris
Hard session to read, given the stoppages, but if qualifying is as entertaining as that then we’re in for a treat!
Kieran Jackson26 August 2023 11:33
Max Verstappen goes quickest!
Well, that’s my prediction out the window!
Max Verstappen goes fastest on intermediate tyres with a 1:23:758, nearly one full second clear of Lando Norris in second!
Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz narrowly avoid hitting the wall as his Ferrari slides off the track… it’s been an entertaining session this one!
Kieran Jackson26 August 2023 11:25
Session resumes almost straight away!
Nine minutes left on the clock as the cars make their way back out on track, with a huge queue at the end of the pit lane!
A reminder, Lando Norris currently leads a McLaren 1-2 at the top – and given the rain, it’s likely it’ll remain that way!
Kieran Jackson26 August 2023 11:22
RED FLAG!
Oh no! Liam Lawson has spun into the wall!
It’s an immediate red flag but the New Zealander does get his AlphaTauri going again and makes his way back to the pits! Far from ideal on his FF1 debut!
10 minutes left – and it’s started raining again!
Kieran Jackson26 August 2023 11:21
Lando Norris goes to the top of the timesheet!
Both McLarens looking very quick here!
Lando Norris goes to the top of the leaderboard with 15 minutes to go, a full 1.2secs ahead of his team-mate Oscar Piastri now in second.
Max Verstappen has dropped to third, with Sergio Perez in fourth.
Alex Albon is fifth. Times will tumble now, you’d think, as the track dries out…
Kieran Jackson26 August 2023 11:14