Antonelli fastest from Norris ahead of Sprint Qualifying as F1 returns
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- Kimi Antonelli topped the sole practice session at the Dutch Grand Prix by 0.121s over Lando Norris, continuing his strong pre-summer-break form as the championship leader (50 points clear of Lewis Hamilton).
- George Russell finished third and 0.125s adrift of Antonelli, looking to revive his title challenge after a disappointing run of form before the break.
- Lewis Hamilton (fourth) and Charles Leclerc (fifth) were within three tenths of Antonelli despite setting their laps on a slower track, suggesting Ferrari's new floor at Zandvoort is working well.
- Max Verstappen, freshly re-signed by Red Bull, struggled to 11th with visible car-balance issues in what could be his final home race — the Dutch Grand Prix has no contract beyond this year.
- McLaren brought rear-of-car upgrades to complete the Hungary-spec package that powered Norris's last victory, positioning them to contend at the front alongside Mercedes and Ferrari.
- Liam Lawson stepped in for the injured Isack Hadjar (wrist) at Red Bull and was 14th, while Yuki Tsunoda took Lawson's Racing Bulls seat and finished 17th.
Why it matters: With the top three teams separated by less than three tenths and Red Bull off the pace, the Dutch GP is shaping up as a reshuffling weekend where Antonelli — already 50 points clear of Hamilton — can extend his championship lead before Verstappen's re-signed title push gains traction.
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