FP2: Russell heads Piastri and Hamilton in interrupted second practice

F1 Grand Prix, GP Netherlands, Circuit Park Zandvoort

Mercedes continued to impress again, with Gerorge Russell setting the benchmark in the second practice at the Dutch Grand Prix. F1technical's lead journalist Balázs Szabo reports from the Zandvoort circuit.

Following the rain-interrupted opening session, drivers enjoyed more stable, sunny, but still windy conditions in the second one-hour session.

However, just minutes into the session, Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg lost the rear of his updated car under braking for Turn 1, sliding across the gravel and thumping the wall – causing damage to the right-hand side and bringing out the red flags.

After the session was restarted, drivers carried on with their soft-tyre qualifying simulations. Mercedes driver George Russell proved quickest, setting a time of 1m10.702s.

Confirming Mercedes’ impressive form, his team-mate Lewis Hamilton ended up third fastest, with Oscar Piastri separating the two silver arrows.

Lando Norris took forth for McLaren, with home hero Max Verstappen ending up down in P5. The Dutchman complained about lack of speed in his RB20, which was confirmed by his team-mate Sergio Perez’s disappointing P12.

Fernando Alonso took an encouraging P6, from Yuki Tsunoda in P7 and Kevin Magnussen in P8. Charles Leclerc wound up ninth, as the sole Ferrari driver for most of the session due to Carlos Sainz hitting gearbox trouble.

Having impressed in the opening practice, Alex Albon continued to impress in FP2, completing the top-10 positions over the other Aston of Lance Stroll.

Having recently lost his seat to Sainz for the 2025 season, Logan Sargeant put his Williams 15th, while the Kick Saubers of Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas finished in P16 and P18 respectively. The Finn was back in the cockpit after Ferrari reserve driver Robert Shwartzman appeared in FP1.

After their misfortunes, Sainz and Hulkenberg brought up the rear of the field on Friday afternoon.