Dutch Grand Prix 2025: pre-qualifying
Shocking precisely no-one, Bottas and Perez have been confirmed for Cadillac in 2026. Good for them, and the team too, I think. Level heads, good speed, and a bag and a half of experience.
Speaking of shocks, McLaren were 1-2 in first practice. Norris was three-tenths up on Piastri, who was two-tenths ahead of Stroll (somehow). Alonso was half a second off his team mate, but three-tenths ahead of Albon. Verstappen was down in 6th, ahead of Russell, Sainz, Bortoleto, and Gasly. Ferrari were 14th and 15th. FP1 also saw Antonelli going off and beaching himself in gravel.
Practice two had red flags from two drivers, namely Stroll and Albon. Norris was quickest again, less than a tenth of a second ahead of Alonso, who was two-thousandths faster than Piastri. Three-tenths further back was Russell, then two-tenths to Vrstappen. Hamilton was 6th but another three-tenths away (eight-tenths off the fastest), ahead of Tsunoda, Leclerc, Colapinto and Hulkenberg.
While Aston Martin are looking good I don’t expect them to challenge the McLaren once we get down to qualifying. But it’s a nice thought.
Many drivers went off in practice, so that may be a factor in the race, especially if we do end up with rain.
So it’s looking very much like a McLaren duel, but with a potentially tasty fight behind them. And we’ve seen the papaya chaps throw away seemingly easy qualifying sessions earlier in the season.
Norris was again quickest in final practice, a quarter of a second ahead of Piastri. Then there was a vast yawning chasm of six-tenths back to Russell. Sainz was next, then Verstappen. Leclerc was 6th, followed by Albon, Stroll, Hadjar, and Alonso.
It’s tempting to back Alonso for pole each way… it really should be McLaren’s, but they’ve often managed to get things wrong in qualifying. The battle behind the papaya cars is very competitive. I’d recommend backing Alonso if you have a free bet, and hedging it, but otherwise this looks like Norris’ to lose. But his odds are less than evens so I’m not inclined to bet.
Morris
Speaking of shocks, McLaren were 1-2 in first practice. Norris was three-tenths up on Piastri, who was two-tenths ahead of Stroll (somehow). Alonso was half a second off his team mate, but three-tenths ahead of Albon. Verstappen was down in 6th, ahead of Russell, Sainz, Bortoleto, and Gasly. Ferrari were 14th and 15th. FP1 also saw Antonelli going off and beaching himself in gravel.
Practice two had red flags from two drivers, namely Stroll and Albon. Norris was quickest again, less than a tenth of a second ahead of Alonso, who was two-thousandths faster than Piastri. Three-tenths further back was Russell, then two-tenths to Vrstappen. Hamilton was 6th but another three-tenths away (eight-tenths off the fastest), ahead of Tsunoda, Leclerc, Colapinto and Hulkenberg.
While Aston Martin are looking good I don’t expect them to challenge the McLaren once we get down to qualifying. But it’s a nice thought.
Many drivers went off in practice, so that may be a factor in the race, especially if we do end up with rain.
So it’s looking very much like a McLaren duel, but with a potentially tasty fight behind them. And we’ve seen the papaya chaps throw away seemingly easy qualifying sessions earlier in the season.
Norris was again quickest in final practice, a quarter of a second ahead of Piastri. Then there was a vast yawning chasm of six-tenths back to Russell. Sainz was next, then Verstappen. Leclerc was 6th, followed by Albon, Stroll, Hadjar, and Alonso.
It’s tempting to back Alonso for pole each way… it really should be McLaren’s, but they’ve often managed to get things wrong in qualifying. The battle behind the papaya cars is very competitive. I’d recommend backing Alonso if you have a free bet, and hedging it, but otherwise this looks like Norris’ to lose. But his odds are less than evens so I’m not inclined to bet.
Morris
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