#DutchGP FP1: @LandoNorris pips @Max33Verstappen by 0.201s. #F1

Norris Dutch GP FP1 – McLaren’s Lando Norris pipped home favourite Max Verstappen at the last moment to top the time-sheets in a wet-to-dry FP1 session at the Dutch GP as Mercedes’ Sir Lewis Hamilton completed the top three.

Norris posted the session-topping benchmark of a 1:12.322 on the C3 red side-walled softer rubber and was 0.201 seconds quicker than Verstappen as Belgian GP winner last time out Hamilton was a further 0.684 adrift of his fellow British-compatriot in third.

Blustery winds and rain hit the Circuit Zandvoort in the lead-up to opening practice, but it started on time – however, the early running was minimal.

The circuit began to dry, prompting drivers to hit the track and make the lap times tumble on the soft tyres as conditions continued to improve throughout the 60-minute practice session. At first a three-way fight for the quickest effort emerged between Mercedes’ George Russell and McLaren’s Norris and Oscar Piastri, the trio switching times with each other at the head of the leader-board with each tour on the fast-drying circuit.

When the flag waved for the end of the session, Verstappen made a push for the fastest lap of opening practice, but this was ousted by Norris on his final flyer – posting a 1:12.322.

Amid the early wet conditions, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly came out first on track and reported the conditions were “wild with the wind” followed by Haas pairing Hulkenberg and Magnussen.

Hulkenberg suffered an excursion in the turn nine gravel trap on his initial tour, although the German managed to pull his Ferrari-powered VF-24 racer free and returned back to the pits.

There were token laps in the opening quarter of proceedings, as Sauber’s Robert Schwartzman (in-place of Valtteri Bottas for FP1) – did a sighting lap along with team-mate Zhou Guanyu and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.

The other Ferrari SF-24 entry of Charles Leclerc then registered the initial benchmark on the full-wets, a 1:26.530 effort, and Hulkenberg then posted a tour 1.5 seconds slower than the Monegasque driver after another pair of off-track excursions as the German driver struggled with corner turn-in.

The Haas driver then got within two tenths on his next hot lap, whilst Russell also got close to Leclerc’s new 1:26.111 effort, but the Ferrari driver remained on top as both McLaren drivers aborted their flying laps set to be faster.

Verstappen then was the first to put on the green-branded intermediates, but the championship leader spun out at turn 11 on his first hot-lap to ruin that effort. After regrouping, the Red Bull driver went for another flyer and went quickest with a 1:21.300, almost five seconds quicker than Leclerc’s tour on full wets.

Russell then lowered the benchmark with his own intermediates flying lap to post a 1:20.444, before being pipped by Norris’ initial hot-lap on the green-branded rubber; a 1:20.392 effort.

The track was becoming visibly drier at this time as the threat of rain looming on the weather radar did not fall, setting the session up for a final flurry of quick flyers.

Norris opened the last ten minutes on the clock with the C3 softer compounds with a 1:17.367 to go fastest, a tour that withstood efforts from Russell and team-mate Piastri, but the latter kept his foot on the throttle as he posted a 1:15.971.

Russell found 0.071 seconds over Piastri to hit P1, although Norris improved once more to set a 1:14.519. Piastri also lowered the benchmark further to a 1:14.293, an effort which was beaten by Russell’s 1:13.766.

Norris then pushed to a 1:12.818, which saw off the threats from Russell and Hamilton, but was then ousted by Verstappen’s 1:12.523. Then Norris reclaimed the fastest time of the session, as Verstappen and Hamilton completed the top three.

Sainz then improved to fourth late on as Russell placed fifth, Williams’ Alexander Albon taking sixth and Piastri ending up seventh in the order.

MoneyGram Haas F1 Team duo Hulkenberg and Magnussen took eighth and ninth respectively as Sauber’s Zhou Guanyu rounded out the top ten runners.

Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll placed outside the top ten in 11^th place and ahead of Red Bull’s Sergio Perez who was 12^th and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc who ended FP1 in 13^th.

Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso placed 15^th and in-front of Sauber’s reserve Robert Schwartzman (in place of Valtteri Bottas in opening practice) who took 16^th as William’s Logan Sargeant came 17^th in the classification.

BWT Alpine F1 Team pairing Esteban Ocon and Gasly were 18^th and at the rear respectively as RB’s Daniel Ricciardo split the duo in 19^th.

You can see the full Formula 1 Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024 Free Practice 1 Results Classification at the link: https://www.formula1.com/en/results/2024/races/1243/netherlands/practice/1

Alpine locks in Doohan to partner Gasly for 2025

Jack Doohan Alpine 2025 – BWT Alpine F1 Team have announced that reserve driver Jack Doohan will be promoted to the race seat alongside Pierre Gasly for the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship season.

Australian driver Doohan, has been part of Alpine’s Academy since 2022, moving over after parting ways with Red Bull’s junior set-up.

Son of 500cc Motorcycle World Champion Mick Doohan, he came third in last season’s FIA Formula 2 World Championship, adding to a runner-up finish in the 2021 FIA Formula 3 World Championship standings.

Doohan was linked to a potential Alpine promotion throughout the 2024 campaign, with those rumours jumping up a gear when it was announced that Esteban Ocon will be leaving the Anglo-French alliance to join American-outfit MoneyGram Haas F1 Team.

And as the F1 circus gathered to Zandvoort this weekend for the Dutch Grand Prix, Alpine wasted no time in announcing that their reserve driver will be promoted to the vacant race seat.

The Australian has racked up plenty of mileage in Alpine’s F1 machinery over the past couple of years to prepare for an opening, completing a heap of private tests and taking part in six practice sessions – The Mexican and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix in 2022 and 2023 – along with the Canadian and British Grands Prix this campaign.

Doohan commented: “I am so happy to secure promotion into a full-time race seat in 2025 with BWT Alpine F1 Team. I am very grateful for the trust and belief by the team’s senior management. There is so much work ahead to be prepared and ready and I will give my best in the meantime to absorb as much information and knowledge to be ready for the step up. It’s exceptionally satisfying to be the first graduate of the Alpine Academy to be in a race seat with the team and I’m extremely thankful to those who supported me along the way to make this a reality. It’s an exciting moment, a proud day for my family, and I look forward to taking it all in and pushing hard behind the scenes.” Doohan concluded, credit to Alpine for the quote.

BWT Alpine F1 Team’s new Team Principal Oliver Oakes, previously had Doohan in the Hitech Grand Prix junior team that he lead in the Asian F3 Series and was excited by the news.

Oakes stated: “We are very excited to promote Jack into the race seat from next season and, in doing so, giving him the opportunity to showcase his skill and talent in Formula 1. Jack will become the first driver to graduate from the Alpine Academy into a race driver position with the team, so that is exceptionally pleasing for the team and its young driver pathway. Personally, I have worked with Jack back in 2019, and I am fully aware of his raw talent and potential. He is a very hard worker behind the scenes and his commitment is hugely valued by the entire team. Alongside Pierre, we have a well-balanced driver line-up with a good combination between youthful energy, experience, and pure speed. We look forward to working with both Jack and Pierre in order to keep developing the car and bring the team up the grid.” Oakes concluded, credit to Alpine for the quote.

Doohan will continue his reserve driver role for the remainder of the 2024 campaign, participating in regular tests in Alpine A522 2022-spec car, as well as race simulator duties on Grand Prix weekends.

#F1 @Heineken #DutchGP 2024 Preview. #Formula1 #DutchGrandPrix

2024 F1 World Championship Standings