New Zealand driver Liam Lawson. Photo: photosport
McLaren's Lando Norris sounded a warning to teammate and Formula One championship leader Oscar Piastri when the Briton topped the first and second Dutch Grand Prix practice sessions which were marred by crashes and red flags.
New Zealand driver Liam Lawson was solid, if unspectacular at Circuit Zandvoort, placing 11th and 14th for Racing Bulls at the two respective sessions.
Piastri had been second-fastest in the first session (FP1) but the Australian was pipped to second place in FP2 by Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso, with both drivers completing lap times within a tenth of a second of Norris.
The two McLaren drivers are separated by nine points in the championship battle with 10 races left.
McLaren team-mates Oscar Piastri (L) and Lando Norris. Photo: photosport
George Russell was fourth-fastest for Mercedes while home favourite Max Verstappen improved one place on his sixth-fastest from FP1.
The second session began amid a light drizzle, although not enough for a switch to wet tyres.
But the session was red-flagged early on when Lance Stroll, who was third-fastest in FP1, locked up on the banked corner at turn three and crashed into the wall, severely damaging his car.
"Just a little lock-up and I was a passenger. One of those things," Stroll said. "We looked competitive throughout the day, so we are in a good spot and will see what we can do tomorrow."
Lawson 'comfortable'
Lawson was content after clocking a total of 54 laps across his two sessions and testing a variety of tyres.
Liam Lawson of Visa Cash-Up Racing Bulls Photo: ANDREA DIODATO / AFP
"It's been a tricky day as Zandvoort is a very hard track, which probably showed," he said.
"That being said, I'm feeling comfortable and the car is in a good place, but we'll of course find out fully tomorrow. We tried to make the most of the track time today and will see how the weather turns out tomorrow as it's pretty unpredictable here.
"Trying to maximise track time is important if qualifying is (wet), then it makes it really tricky trying to avoid red flags, yellow flags."
Lawson had a better day than team-mate Isack Hadjar, who was forced to retire without setting a timed lap in the second session because of a power unit issue.
McLaren fined
The session also provided drama in the pit lane when Piastri, who was asked to go around his teammate, swerved back into the path of Russell. The pair nearly made contact as the Briton took evasive action when he braked.
Piastri was summoned by the stewards and the team were fined 5,000 euros ($NZ9913).
"I think he pulled in too early then pulled back out. A bit unfortunate," Russell said.
"It scared me a bit. When you're on track, you're ready for anything but when you're in the pit lane going relatively slow, you're chilling out then suddenly 'Jeez!' It caught me out by surprise."
Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton had struggled in FP1 when he nearly spun out at turn two but managed to regain control to stay on the track, although he had a moment of deja vu in FP2 with another 360-degree spin.
The Briton went slightly wide at turn nine and his tyre strayed off track to spin him around once again, but with no damage as he regained control.
Ferrari recover
He recovered to finish sixth-fastest while teammate Charles Leclerc was eighth, a marked improvement after the two Ferraris finished 14th and 15th in FP1, prompting Leclerc to say they were "miles off" the pace on the team radio.
Rain clouds steered clear of the Zandvoort circuit and once the track was bathed in sunshine, Norris took charge with the fastest lap, clocking one minute 9.890 seconds.
The session was red-flagged a second time when Alex Albon, fifth-fastest in P1, locked up a front tyre and crashed his Williams on turn one, damaging his front wing.
"It's incredibly windy and we are seeing drivers getting caught out with gusts of wind," Williams team principal James Vowles said.
Earlier in FP1, Verstappen also found himself in the gravel at the end of the session when he botched a practice start by locking up into turn one.
His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was only 16th fastest in FP1 but the Japanese driver improved to seventh in FP2.
Kimi Antonelli had also struggled with understeer at turn nine and beached his Mercedes in the gravel, bringing out the red flag and prematurely ending his session. He could only manage 12th-fastest in FP2.
- Reuters
