Ferrari further behind than expected at Zandvoort: “Compared to them, McLaren is like a 4×4”. Ferrari endured a difficult first day at the Dutch GP.

Formula 1: Ferrari faces uphill battle at Zandvoort while McLaren dominates

Carlo Vanzini has analysed Friday at Zandvoort, focusing on Ferrari’s problems and the stark contrast with a McLaren that once again seems untouchable, even in the Netherlands. Considering how the first half of the season unfolded, expecting continued dominance over the remaining ten races does not seem unrealistic. On Friday at Zandvoort, McLaren once again confirmed itself as the car to beat, unlike Ferrari, which looks set for a Dutch Grand Prix filled with problems and challenges.

The updated SF-25 does not appear to suit the characteristics of the Dutch circuit, which explains why both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc ended up far behind the Norris-Piastri pairing. The gap between the two teams, who battled for victory in Budapest, shrank slightly between Free Practice 1 and Free Practice 2, but the difference still remains significant heading into qualifying and the race.

The opinion of someone who sees the cars up close

At the end of the opening day of track action, Carlo Vanzini summed up the situation at Zandvoort in his usual video published on his YouTube channel. “Ferrari struggled badly on the first day at Zandvoort. They are probably still trying to understand what happened in Leclerc’s final stint at Budapest. It has been a very difficult start, and we will see how the rest of the weekend develops.”

“McLaren, on the other hand, is simply impressive. Oscar Piastri put half the car on the grass and it reacted as if it were a 4×4, without flinching. Meanwhile, Hamilton just went slightly over the limit and spun. They are really frightening,” the Sky Sport commentator explained.