FORMULA 1 FP1: MCLARENS RETURN TO WHERE THEY FINISHED, FERRARI STRUGGLES
Formula 1 has come back as it finished, with Mclarens dominating the classification at the end of the session. In a high-downforce track such as Zandvoort with high elevation changes and high speed corners, Mclaren’s efficient aerodynamics prove to be the best once again.
Another team with a car suited for high downforce tracks is Aston Martin, and it was not a case that both cars closed the top 4 behind the Mclarens. Stroll and Alonso finished P3 and P4 respectively only half a second from Norris’ great lap.
Ferrari has struggled all session long, with Leclerc not being able to pick up his pace, claiming they were “Miles off” the target. A spin for Lewis Hamilton at turn 3 in the first 10 minutes of the session, shows how the 7-time world champion still struggles with the Ferrari car.
Free Practice 1 is set to be the only all-dry session throughout the weekend, and it gave the opportunity to the drivers to test the slick tires.
However, the low grip at the beginning of the session, saw Tsunoda and Antonelli go off track as well. The difference is, that the Italian got stuck in the gravel and was not able to continue the FP1, after only 4 laps.
Verstappen started the session going fastest on medium tires, setting a 1:12.1, but Piastri quickly beat him going four tenths faster. Hamilton and Leclerc did not get in the top 10 at all.
Halfway through the session, the first lap on soft tires began to appear, with Lando Norris setting a 1:10.2, four tenths faster than his team mate in P2. The Ferraris did not manage to set a faster lap than 1:11.8.
Stroll and Alonso have put themselves in P3 and P4 respectively, half a second behind, ahead of Albon, Max and Russell, with Sainz, Bortoleto and Gasly closing the top 10.
In the race pace simulation, we saw the Mclaren being the fastest and most consistent car, with Norris lapping on an average of 15.5 on medium tires, 4 tenths quicker than his team mate, Verstappen and Russell.
The Ferraris had an average race pace on lows 16s, although Hamilton did his run on soft tires, due to having ruined his set of mediums due to the spin at the beginning of the session, which caused severe flatspots.
There are only three teams bringing upgrades this weekend: Red Bull, who brings a performance upgrade on the front wing to increase downforce load. Alpine arrives with new Rear Brake duct furniture to help tire management, and Sauber updated its design on the same part of the car, in order to improve the airflo.
The drivers get on track for Free Practice 2 at 16:00 CET Time.
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