The Dutch fans had imagined things differently: Max Verstappen did not play a major role in the second free practice session at Zandvoort
Friday at the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort was characterized by extreme weather conditions in the first free practice session. In the second free practice session, George Russell (Mercedes) then secured the best time on a dry track and with less wind, leading to a battle between Mercedes and McLaren.
But the session was less than 17 minutes old when it was already over for Nico Hülkenberg (20th/+2.594). The Haas driver’s rear end suddenly broke off as he braked for turn 1 and he spun across the gravel into the tire pile. “I don’t know what happened,” was his first comment on the pit radio.
It didn’t take long for the first derisive comments to start doing the rounds. After all, Dutch bailiffs paid a visit to the Haas team on Thursday. The background to this is an outstanding payment to the former title sponsor Uralkali (Dmitri Masepin), which Haas has yet to pay
“Dunno what happened there”
Nico is now out of the car and making his way back to the pits F1 DutchGP pic.twitter.com/pkmv39rQOc
– Formula 1 (@F1) August 23, 2024
A few minutes after Hülkenberg, Carlos Sainz was also able to change early. His Ferrari suffered a gearbox problem that could not be repaired quickly enough. As a result, the session was over for the Spaniard after just seven relatively slow laps – and he missed the long run simulations that were so important on Friday (19th/+2.406).
Local hero Max Verstappen was not yet fully convincing on Friday afternoon. The Red Bull driver ended up in fifth place. However, his small gap of just 0.284 seconds to Russell’s best time is reassuring. The result shows: There are possibly five candidates for victory at the Dutch Grand Prix.
Between Russell and Verstappen, Oscar Piastri (McLaren) in second place, Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) in third place and Lando Norris (McLaren) in fourth place all lined up within a very narrow time gap. Norris had set the fastest time in the first free practice session at midday, in conditions that dried out at the end.
The long runs at the end of the FT2 session were pleasing for the Dutch fans. Verstappen’s run on soft tires was faster than the comparative laps of Russell and Piastri and on a par with Norris. But it is also clear that Zandvoort 2024 will not be a foregone conclusion for the three-time world champion, who has always won his home race since 2021
The stewards are gonna have a look at this one
Albon and Stroll almost collide in the pit lane F1 DutchGP pic.twitter.com/MC34DvIPrx
– Formula 1 (@F1) August 23, 2024
ServusTV expert Christian Klien analyzes: “Max looks pretty good, especially in turn 3, but so does the McLaren. Russell’s Mercedes was slightly unsteady in the corner, but on one lap it was excellent.”
“I think these three teams will also be very close to each other in qualifying, and that the form of the day and the temperatures will play a role in who ends up at the front. In any case, it will be ultra-exciting again, as it has always been in the last few races. You don’t know exactly – a perfect starting position.”
“Ferrari,” says Klien, ”are a bit behind. It didn’t go the way they probably wanted it to. Leclerc was seven tenths behind. That’s a lot. Zandvoort is a relatively slow race track with high downforce, on which the Ferrari could actually work a little better.”
There was already a considerable gap behind Mercedes, McLaren and Verstappen. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) was already 0.655 seconds behind in 6th place. They were followed by Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls), Kevin Magnussen (Haas), Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and Alexander Albon (Williams) in 10th place, who was already 0.848 seconds behind
Where can you watch the Grand Prix in Zandvoort live?
When Formula 1 returns from the summer break, German fans will also be able to watch it live. RTL will be showing qualifying and the race live from Zandvoort. Qualifying starts on Saturday at 3 pm, the race starts on Sunday at 3 pm.
Real hardcore fans who can’t get enough of Formula 1 can also watch the daily F1 show with analysis by Christian Nimmervoll and Ruben Zimmermann every evening at 10:30 pm. The pair also delve into topics that are not covered by the TV stations and answer questions from channel members in the live chat.