F1 | Dutch GP FP1 summary: McLaren one-two, Ferrari struggles at the back. McLaren dominates the first free practice session at the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix.

McLaren dominates opening session at Zandvoort

The 2025 Formula 1 season returns to the track after the long summer break, and the first free practice session at the Dutch Grand Prix offered an early glimpse of the competitive order. McLaren claimed a commanding one-two, while Ferrari found itself struggling in the lower midfield with the SF-25, highlighting the work still needed to get the car up to speed.

First half-hour

As usual, the drivers began FP1 with standard preparation activities, crucial for regaining the right feel with their cars after the summer pause. The Dutch circuit is very technical, and from the opening minutes there was plenty of on-track action, with drivers aiming to complete as many laps as possible. Unfortunately, Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli went off into the gravel due to a driving error, prompting a red flag just 12 minutes into the session.

The session resumed with 40 minutes remaining. Max Verstappen was the first to attempt a fast lap on the red soft tires, the quickest compound available, while the rest of the field focused on medium tires. Soon after, other drivers also switched to the soft tires, which might not see much race use due to the expected rain. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri soon leapfrogged Max Verstappen to lead the session with 30 minutes remaining.

Second half-hour

This year’s soft compound is the C4, one step softer than in 2024, making on-track running essential to gather fresh data. Timed laps on the soft tires continued to see the McLaren duo at the top, followed by Fernando Alonso, Alexander Albon, Max Verstappen, and George Russell. The two Ferrari drivers remained further down in 14th and 15th positions.

During FP1, teams primarily focused on running their programs, so the results should be interpreted with caution. The session concluded without major surprises: the two McLarens led the timesheets, followed by the Aston Martins, Albon, and Verstappen. At the back of the field, the Ferrari pair struggled to find pace.

Key takeaways

The first free practice session after the summer break largely met expectations. McLaren’s one-two demonstrates how well the MCL39 suits the fast Zandvoort layout, efficiently exploiting its aerodynamic load. Behind them, uncertainty remains: Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari appear to still be searching for the right setup balance with their respective packages. It is too early to draw definitive conclusions, and the looming weather uncertainty could mix things up, potentially offering some surprises as the weekend progresses.