Lando Norris topped the timesheet again in Free Practice 2 for the Dutch Grand Prix, despite two interruptions due to red flags. He is currently just nine points behind his McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, in the Drivers’ Championship. The session ended early for Lance Stroll and Alex Albon after their crashes.
The weather was dry, but rain was on the horizon. Drivers wasted no time hitting the track at the Zandvoort Circuit, with Liam Lawson leading the way. Norris, who had already set the fastest time in FP1, quickly moved to the top with a lap time of 1m 12.615s on medium tires. However, as light rain started, Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso briefly took the lead before Norris surged back with a stunning lap of 1m 11.294s.
In the midst of this, home favorite Max Verstappen clocked in the fourth-fastest time, just three-tenths off Norris’s top lap. A notable performance came from Haas’ Oliver Bearman, who jumped to the top with a time of 1m 11.113s, just before a red flag was shown due to Stroll’s heavy crash.
Fortunately, Stroll confirmed he was okay after the wreck, and after clearing the debris, the session resumed. However, it was not without drama; Isack Hadjar faced a technical issue, halting his progress. Meanwhile, Nico Hulkenberg grabbed the top spot with a time of 1m 11.080s, just as Lewis Hamilton spun out again after setting a fast sector time.
As the cloud cover lifted, both Alonso and Norris pushed the limits, with Alonso clocking in at 1m 09.977s and Norris improving to 1m 09.890s on soft tires. However, Albon’s crash at Turn 1 triggered another red flag, halting the action.
With 16 minutes remaining, the rain threat lessened, allowing drivers to focus on their race strategies. Norris finished with the fastest time, 0.087 seconds ahead of Alonso, while Piastri secured third place. Notably, Piastri is under investigation for a minor incident in the pit lane involving George Russell.
The session rounded out with the top ten featuring drivers like Verstappen, Hamilton, and Tsunoda, among others. Bearman and Antonelli also made impressive showings despite previous crashes.
Looking ahead, teams will head into one more practice session before the all-important Qualifying for the Dutch Grand Prix.
The dynamics of this session reflect how unpredictable F1 can be; strategy, weather, and driver performances all play pivotal roles. Norris’s consistency, mixed with the occasional drama, creates an exciting build-up to the race weekend.
As viewer interest continues to grow, it’s worth noting that 2023 has seen an increase in online conversations surrounding the Dutch Grand Prix, particularly about emerging talents like Piastri, who are quickly rising to prominence in the sport.
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