Norris Leads McLaren 1–2 in Dutch GP FP1 as Stroll Surprises in Third

Image Credentials: Image Title: Norris Leads McLaren 1–2 in Dutch GP FP1 as Stroll Surprises in Third Source: (Sora.ChatGpt) Date: August 2025. Attribution: Created by AI-generated imagery (Sora.ChatGpt), it does not depict a real-world scene.

By Staff Writer | Open Chronicle

The 2025 Dutch Grand Prix weekend opened with a strong statement from McLaren. Lando Norris set the pace in Free Practice 1 at Zandvoort, clocking a 1:10.278 after 35 laps. The Briton, who won last year’s race at the same venue, was once again at ease on the tight and twisty Dutch circuit, leading a McLaren one–two with teammate Oscar Piastri just behind.

Piastri, building on his growing consistency, finished second with a lap of 1:10.570, three-tenths shy of Norris. Together, the pair underlined McLaren’s impressive form heading into the weekend.

Lance Stroll delivered a surprise performance for Aston Martin, securing third place with a 1:10.779. His teammate, Fernando Alonso, also showed competitive pace, finishing just two-tenths behind in fourth, signaling that Aston Martin could be a strong challenger in Zandvoort.

McLaren's Norris fastest in Dutch Grand Prix practice sessions https://t.co/cN969n0GoE https://t.co/cN969n0GoE

— Reuters (@Reuters) August 30, 2025

Red Bull Behind the Curve

Despite racing on home soil, Max Verstappen ended the session only sixth fastest. His best lap, a 1:11.218, left him nearly a full second behind Norris. With the Racing Bulls duo of Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar both finishing mid-pack, Red Bull and its junior team appeared to struggle with balance on the high-downforce circuit.

Williams Shine, Ferrari Struggle

Alexander Albon put Williams in fifth place with a clean 33-lap run, while his teammate Carlos Sainz slotted into eighth. The Grove-based squad seemed well-prepared, with both cars inside the top 10.

Ferrari, however, faced a more difficult session. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, driving for the Scuderia this season, finished only 14th and 15th respectively, both over 1.6 seconds off the leading pace. Their struggles contrasted sharply with Sauber’s promising showing, as rookie Gabriel Bortoleto impressed in ninth and Nico Hülkenberg secured 13th.

The Newcomers and the Back of the Field

Among the rookies, Bortoleto stood out as the only newcomer inside the top 10. Franco Colapinto finished 18th for Alpine, while Oliver Bearman was 19th in the Haas. Mercedes junior Kimi Antonelli endured a frustrating session, completing only six laps before technical issues left him last, nearly four seconds off the pace.

FP1 Results – Dutch GP 2025

1. Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1:10.278

2. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 1:10.570 (+0.292)

3. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – 1:10.779 (+0.501)

4. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – 1:10.841 (+0.563)

5. Alexander Albon (Williams) – 1:11.171 (+0.893)

6. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 1:11.218 (+0.940)

7. George Russell (Mercedes) – 1:11.386 (+1.108)

8. Carlos Sainz (Williams) – 1:11.458 (+1.180)

9. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) – 1:11.509 (+1.231)

10. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – 1:11.613 (+1.335)

11. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – 1:11.753 (+1.475)

12. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) – 1:11.772 (+1.494)

13. Nico Hülkenberg (Sauber) – 1:11.875 (+1.597)

14. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 1:11.951 (+1.673)

15. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – 1:11.960 (+1.682)

16. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) – 1:12.126 (+1.848)

17. Esteban Ocon (Haas) – 1:12.144 (+1.866)

18. Franco Colapinto (Alpine) – 1:12.276 (+1.998)

19. Oliver Bearman (Haas) – 1:12.564 (+2.286)

20. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 1:14.275 (+3.997)