F1 Dutch GP FP1 live coverage: action returns to Zandvoort after the summer break

F1 Dutch GP FP1 live coverage: action returns to Zandvoort after the summer break. Follow the live coverage of Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix FP1 at Zandvoort.

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari SF-25, garage, 2025 F1

F1 | Dutch GP – LIVE report FP1: back on track at Zandvoort after the summer break

Formula 1 is back after a full month away from the circuits. The drivers return to racing in the Netherlands, with the LIVE coverage of the first free practice session at Zandvoort. The championship resumes with its fifteenth round of the season, which also happens to be the penultimate European race before the iconic Italian Grand Prix at Monza. At Zandvoort, Lando Norris will have the opportunity to close the gap to his team-mate Oscar Piastri, but first let’s dive into FP1 and follow the live session with our updates.

The intra-team battle at McLaren continues to heat up. At this stage of the season, Oscar Piastri still holds a nine-point advantage over Lando Norris. The early sessions of the weekend will already be important to understand which of the two drivers adapts more quickly to the unique challenges of Zandvoort, a circuit where qualifying is expected to play a crucial role due to its tight and technical nature.

Attention also turns to Ferrari, as Charles Leclerc returned from the summer holidays with clear goals for this second half of the campaign. The Monegasque driver explained: “We must be satisfied with the progress we made in the last few races before the break. The Sunday in Belgium, the qualifying session in Hungary and, more generally, the races held during the summer showed that we were constantly taking steps forward. We need to keep going in this direction, with the target of fighting for victories while also making sure to secure second place in the Constructors’ Championship.”

Another driver who shared his thoughts ahead of the restart was Lewis Hamilton, who faced some difficulties in the weekends leading up to the break. The seven-time world champion said: “I think the summer pause came at exactly the right moment. I was able to switch my mind off from daily routines and change environment for a while. Now I’m very happy to be back with the team. I’m confident that, step by step, we will get to where we want to be.”