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Max second fastest in Zandvoort FP1

Published on 03 September 2021 by Stefan Meens

Max Verstappen marked the return to Zandvoort with a second place in the opening practice session of the Dutch Grand Prix. Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton was quickest with the Ferraris of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc in third and fourth.

It is a chilly morning in Zandvoort, despite the legendary circuit basking in sunshine. At the start of FP1, the track temperature sits in the low twenties. This, combined with a ‘green’ track, catches out Yuki Tsunoda on his installation lap as the Japanese drivers spins his Alpha Tauri on cold tyres, prompting the first yellow flag of the session.

After a couple of installation laps, Max decides to put down the throttle and clock some lap times. The Dutchman is immediately on the pace with several quick laps on the hard Pirelli tyres, resulting in the fastest lap of the session thus far.

Fifteen minutes into the session, Sebastian Vettel has to park his Aston Martin at the pit exit with engine issues, resulting in a red flag. Once the German is out of his car, there is no green light to be seen above the airbox; this means the car could give off a potential electrical shock. After a thorough, yet lengthy check, the car is lifted from the track.

With five minutes to go, the green flag is waved and all drivers head out on the soft Pirelli tyres to get a feel for a fast lap. Despite it being busy on track and drivers complaining of traffic, Max is able to better his time and finish the session in second, behind Lewis Hamilton.

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Results first free practice Netherlands:

posdriverteamtimelaps
1Lewis HamiltonHAMMercedes1:11.500
2Max VerstappenVERRed Bull Racing Honda1:11.597+0.097s
3Carlos SainzSAIFerrari1:11.601+0.101s
4Charles LeclercLECFerrari1:11.623+0.123s
5Valtteri BottasBOTMercedes1:11.738+0.238s
6Fernando AlonsoALOAlpine Renault1:12.158+0.658s
7Esteban OconOCOAlpine Renault1:12.231+0.731s
8Antonio GiovinazziGIOAlfa Romeo Racing Ferrari1:12.359+0.859s
9Lance StrollSTRAston Martin Mercedes1:12.431+0.931s
10Pierre GaslyGASAlphaTauri Honda1:12.515+1.015s
11Lando NorrisNORMcLaren Mercedes1:12.679+1.179s
12Nicholas LatifiLATWilliams Mercedes1:12.907+1.407s
13Kimi RäikkönenRAIAlfa Romeo Racing Ferrari1:13.053+1.553s
14Daniel RicciardoRICMcLaren Mercedes1:13.081+1.581s
15George RussellRUSWilliams Mercedes1:13.181+1.681s
16Sergio PerezPERRed Bull Racing Honda1:13.328+1.828s
17Nikita MazepinMAZHaas Ferrari1:13.516+2.016s
18Mick SchumacherMSCHaas Ferrari1:13.847+2.347s
19Sebastian VettelVETAston Martin Mercedes1:15.984+4.484s
20Yuki TsunodaTSUAlphaTauri Honda---