Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB19 on track during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of The Netherlands at Circuit Zandvoort on August 25, 2023 in Zandvoort, Netherlands. (Photo by Peter Fox/Getty Images)
ZANDVOORT, Netherlands – The summer break for Formula 1 has finally come to an end as the series makes its return to Circuit Zandvoort for the Dutch Grand Prix. Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen look to continue to set records in this 2023 F1 season. If you need a little review of the season so far, check this review/preview article to see how teams have done and what they have to look forward to through the end of the season.
With track activity returning, what is considered a typical Grand Prix weekend was at hand, with Free Practice 1 and Free Practice 2 starting off the sessions on Friday.
Every team was eager to return to the track, and at the start of FP1, just about every team started to run laps when the pit road light turned green. With the teams returning to the track, upgrades could be shown off. Championship leaders Red Bull only brought one upgrade package meanwhile, contenders Mercedes and Aston Martin brought significant upgrades for the fight for second.
Meanwhile, a different face got to experience F1 practice as Ferrari. Reserve driver Robert Schwartzman took over duties in the first practice for Carlos Sainz. Every team must give a practice session for a reserve driver for each seat at least once per season.
Once teams started to take laps, Verstappen and Red Bull continued where they had left off before the break, at the top of the timing charts. The Williams drivers of Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant showed impressive speed, both having moments at the top of the timing sheet. At the end of the session, found Albon in the Top 5 of the timing sheets.
Behind Verstappen came the upgraded pair of the Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso, looking to fight back to the podium after a few weeks off, and an upgraded Lewis Hamilton, still looking for his first win since 2021. The other Red Bull of Sergio Perez followed behind.
The lone incident of the session came from the Haas of Nico Hulkenberg as he skidded into the wall at Turn 12. This wasn’t how they hoped to start the rest of the season, especially after signing an extension for both Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen for 2024.
Formel 1 – Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, Großer Preis der Niederlande 2023. Lewis Hamilton
Formula One – Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, 2023 Dutch GP. Lewis Hamilton (Source: Mercedes-Benz)
After a short time, FP2 was upon F1 teams at the Circuit Zandvoort. Verstappen, hoping to pick up where he left off at his home track, was not able to pick up another session at the top of the timing sheet. However, McLaren’s Lando Norris showed the speed they have before the break looks to be continuing through the end of the year by topping the charts.
Following came another impressive session from the Williams of Albon, behind the pair of Norris and Verstappen. Meanwhile, Hamilton brought his Mercedes into the Top 5 of the timing sheets with an equally impressive showing from the AlphaTauri of Yuki Tsunoda.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t a drama-free session. Going into the banked Turn 3 barely 10 minutes into the session, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri lost it into the barrier, and shortly after that, the AlphaTauri driver of Daniel Ricciardo followed him into the wall. Sadly for Ricciardo, in the lack of time to move his hands away from the steering wheel, he happened to break his hand and had to be taken to the hospital. Because of this, AlphaTauri announced that Red Bull Reserve Driver Liam Lawson will be making his F1 Grand Prix debut for the injured Ricciardo.
A nasty moment for our Aussie pair during FP2
Daniel Ricciardo is being checked at the local hospital after the collision#DutchGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/RXdiSBLbtx
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 25, 2023
After the Friday sessions, all eyes turn to Saturday as they approach the final practice and the qualifying sessions. Will Verstappen continue his impressive form and pick up a pole at his home track, or will his contenders, such as Hamilton or Norris, surprise the field and the fans and take it to the dominant Red Bull?
